Workers call for stronger health & safety laws with national meetings and rallies
31 August, 2009 | Media Release
Thousands of workers and families of people who have died or been injured at work will call on state, federal and territory governments today to bring in stronger workplace health and safety protections at a series of nation wide events on Tuesday 1 September.
The national meetings and rallies are in response to government proposals to bring in one set of new standardised national workplace health and safety laws, called ‘OHS Harmonisation’.
ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said that Australian workers deserved the best possible health and safety laws.
“With an estimated 7,000 Australians dying each year as a result of workplace injuries or diseases it is essential the governments’ proposed changes to workplace health and safety do not undermine standards or put more Australian workers and their families at risk.”
“Employers must be clearly responsible for making workplaces safe, workers’ health and safety representatives must have the power they need to do their job, and unions must be able to take court action to fix safety problems.”
Media contacts
Amanda Tattam (ACTU) 0418 479 455 or Elisha Johnston 0410 283 965
Melbourne
Media Contact: Elisha Johnston, EMC, ph 0410 283 965.
10am – workers assemble at Victorian Trades Hall, cnr Lygon and Victoria Sts, Carlton.
10.20am — March to Parliament House.
10.45am — Rally on steps of Parliament House with ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence
11.30am (approx.) — Media doorstop Spring St, Melbourne.
Brisbane
Media Contact: Tania Reeves, QCU, ph 0418 700 419
12 noon — Workers Rally , Queens Park, Cnr George and Elizabeth Sts. Brisbane
Sydney
Media Contact: Nick Lucchinelli, Unions NSW ph 0422 229 032
NB- Mon 31 August 12.30pm Workplace Safety Forum, Trades Hall Auditorium, 4-10 Goulburn St, Sydney.
Adelaide
Media Contact: Janet Giles, SA Unions, ph 08 8279 2222.
12 noon, Rally from building site on corner of Grenfell St and Hindmarsh Sq, Adelaide.
Hobart
Media Contact: Susan Wallace, Unions Tasmania, ph 0418 372198
12.30pm, Forecourt, State govt. Executive Building,15 Murray St.
Perth
Media Contact: Simone McGurk, Unions WA, 0407 199 890.
Unions will be handing out brochures at train stations and AMWU will hold a lunchtime event.
Canberra
Media Contact Kim Sattler, Unions ACT, ph 0414 918452.
Rally, 11.30am-12.30 Cnr Rudd St and Marcus Clarke St, Civic.
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