XN000022-1983-06-29 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1983

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INQUIRY POWER PROPOSED

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A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO EMPOWER THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR TO HOLD A FORMAL INQUIRY INTO AN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON NEIL HENDERSON, SAID THE BILL ALSO PROPOSÉS:

* TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR FACTORY

*

REGISTRATIONS TO BE PERIODICALLY RENEWED ;

TO EXEMPT CONSTRUCTION SITES FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ORDINANCE;

* TO REVISE THE LEVELS OF SOME PENALTIES

IN THE ORDINANCE;

*

TO AMEND THE DEFINITIONS OF +COMMISSIONER+ +FACTORY+ AND INSPECTOR+ IN THE ORDINANCE; AND

* TO STREAMLINE CERTAIN PROVISIONS.

THE BILL WILL ALSO ENABLE THE COMMISSIONER TO ORDER THE CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR TO MAKE AN INFORMAL INQUIRY.

WHERE THE CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR CONSIDERS THAT HIS INQUIRY MAY BE FRUSTRATED OR DELAYED FOR ANY REASON, THE COMMISSIONER MAY THEN HOLD A FORMAL INQUIRY.

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS, MR HENDERSON ADDED, WOULD CONTINUE TO BE INVESTIGATED BY THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE AND THAT FATAL ACCIDENTS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE REPORTED TO THE CORONER.

HOWEVER, THERE WERE SOME ACCIDENTS WHICH MIGHT GIVE RISE TO WIDESPREAD PUBLIC CONCERN, AND IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT AN' INQUIRY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BILL IN ORDER TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC.

IN FATAL ACCIDENTS. THERE MIGHT BE AN OCCASIONAL NEED TO ESTABLISH VERY URGENTLY WHETHER ANY WIDELY-USED EQUIPMENT OR MATERIALS INVOLVED WERE DEFECTIVE.

SOME FORM OF FORMAL INQUIRY MIGHT BE NECESSARY IF THE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER FAILED TO CO-OPERATE.

+THIS WOULD BE ADDITIONAL TO AND NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE INQUEST, AND IN NO WAY DEROGATES FROM THE POWERS OF THE CORONER,+ MR HENDERSON POINTED OUT.

/ MR HENDERSON