Media statements - December 2006
20 December 2006
Mutual recognition of construction induction cards
On 13 October 2006 the Council for the Australian Federation comprised of the State Premiers and the Territory Chief Ministers of Australia agreed to the harmonisation of workers’ compensation and occupational health and safety arrangements.
As part of this process, agreement was reached at the Harmonisation Meeting of 2 November 2006 between Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria for the mutual recognition of training for general safety induction for Construction Work.
Mutual recognition is a system that allows workers with qualifications to practice across state lines and each participating state recognises the worker’s qualification issued by the other member states.
The benefits flowing from mutual recognition include lower costs to business, improved industry competitiveness, greater choice for consumers, improved occupational mobility, and greater cooperation between regulatory authorities.
Mutual recognition of construction induction cards will commence on 1 January 2007. Construction workers who have completed health and safety induction training in Queensland will be automatically recognised for the Foundation for Safety Construction Industry Induction Training Agreement (red card) issued in Victoria and the WorkCover Construction Induction Certificate for the Construction Industry issued in New South Wales.
Demolition and asbestos removal work are prescribed activities that require licences before they can be performed in Queensland. These prescribed activities are defined as 'construction work' under Queensland workplace health and safety legislation and are therefore subject to Queensland construction induction requirements. Persons engaged by businesses conducting demolition or asbestos removal (friable) work or persons conducting bonded asbestos removal are required to hold a recognised construction induction card in addition to relevant prescribed activity licences.
The mutual recognition of general induction with New South Wales and Victoria will be an interim measure and will expire at the earlier of either two years from 1 January 2007 or from when any final nationally accredited course is operational.
Any worker entering the construction workforce after any nationally accredited course becomes available, will be required to complete that course if they have not already completed either the Queensland, New South Wales or Victorian course.
Further information is available from WorkCover NSW (non-Queensland Government link) and WorkSafe Victoria (non-Queensland Government link).
Read the announcement from Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations.Last updated 21 July 2009
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