Welcome to the AREEA Member Portal

Login

Register

Is your company a member of AREEA?  Register now to access the Member Portal

Welcome to the AREEA Member Portal

News, information and resources in one location for your access to ongoing support.

From fact sheets, guides and reference libraries to breaking news, the portal is your comprehensive and exclusive reference tool.

Unions urged not to hold up safety reforms

Providing Influence and Industry Advocacy since 1918

Contact AREEA to find out more. When it comes to workforce & workplace relations advocacy, AREEA is right there with you.

T: 1800 627 771
E: [email protected]

A RECENT union advertising campaign opposing Australia’s move towards adopting a uniform set of national occupational health and safety laws has drawn criticism from the Australian Mines and Metals Association.

AREEA Chief Executive, Steve Knott, said the union sponsored radio campaign was a clear attempt to only delay the much needed reform but also point the finger of blame at the feet of employers.

“The union movement’s assertion that the proposed national health and safety laws will somehow reduce the level of protection for workers as well as compromise the standards of occupational health and safety for millions of workers is ludicrous.

“The unions may not like to hear me say this, but it is actually in the interests of employers to ensure their highly valued and skilled employees and contractors have a safe work environment. That’s why across the mining and resources sector we have seen tremendous advances over the last few years in terms of improving safety at workplaces across all of Australia.

“It is obvious that in running out this campaign some unions are not interested in Australia’s move into the 21st century by having a common set of rules that all Australian workers can be trained in and understand.

“It is antiquated thinking that supports an Australian worker being forced to learn and then operate within up to seven different sets of workplace health and safety laws.

“Most workers think it makes sense to have a uniform set of laws across all of Australia, just as do the majority of employers.

“But rather than being constructive, it would appear that these unions want to hold the process of harmonisation up while they work out the best way of ensuring they have the maximum capacity to interfere in and interupt the operations of businesses as well as make money out of prosecuting safety incidents.

“One seriously has to question what their real motivations are here – their own interests or the interests of the workers they allege to represent?”

ENDS

Download AREEA Media Release here.

Create your AREEA Member login

Register