NSW WorkCover Talk National OHS Laws

NSW re-joins harmonisation talks
New South Wales has today re-joined negotiations on national OHS laws, after withdrawing yesterday due to concerns that the Commonwealth was promoting a workplace safety "race to the bottom".

Commerce Minister John Della Bosca instructed WorkCover NSW not to participate in talks at yesterday's meeting of the ASCC, alleging that Federal Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews had removed four agreed principles from the agenda (see related article).

Late yesterday, Della Bosca announced he had received a letter from Kevin Andrews that was faxed to him after the meeting had commenced, which confirmed that the principles were "inherent" in the work of the ASCC.

Della Bosca agreed that NSW would re-join the talks today, on the condition that WorkCover would seek a minuted commitment that discussions were subject to the four principles.

Source: OHS Alert