Budget highlights 2005-06
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Reducing workplace injury and disease
Building a better public service
Industrial compliance
Workplace visits and safety notices
Health and safety prosecutions
Electrical safety investigations and notices
Safe, fair and productive workplaces
The Department of Industrial Relations' $96 million Budget allocation for 2005-06 will be used to expand the range of workplace health and safety, electrical safety and industrial relations services for employers and workers.
With a nine per cent increase in total funding, the department will continue its strong emphasis on education and enforcement to ensure safer, fairer and more productive workplaces in Queensland.
Reducing workplace injury and disease
Additional ongoing funding of $1.2 million will be provided to continue the department's work in addressing the unacceptable cost of workplace injury and disease by targeting priority health and safety issues in Queensland.
This will include injury and accident prevention programs in the building and construction industry; small business compliance with workplace health and safety legislation; and strategies to manage psychosocial injury.
Building a better public service
The department received funding of $0.67 million to undertake three initiatives aimed at boosting the capability and productivity of the Queensland Public Service including:
- Development of learning materials for an Advanced Diploma in Government to improve the workforce capability of the public service to meet the needs of the Queensland community.
- Development of a Family Friendly Workplace Measure survey of employees of core government agencies to determine whether current employment practices help employees balance their employment and family responsibilities. Effective work and family life policies help attract staff to, and retain them in, the public sector in a tight labour market.
- A review of the Job Evaluation Management System which is integral to the effective operation of the Queensland Public Service classification and remuneration system.
Industrial compliance
The department will continue its focus on targeted workplace compliance campaigns across the State to increase compliance with industrial relations laws. Inspectors will target poor performing employers in areas of non-compliance.
The department's wage complaint service recovered more than *$9 million in wages through prosecutions and negotiated resolution of complaints while Industrial Inspectors investigated more than *8000 wage complaints, carried out more than *250 court actions, and issued more than *100 on-the-spot fines.
A $0.69 million "easy to use" web-based tool will be developed on the Wageline website to help around 300 000 Queensland employers and employees check their correct wages to be paid under the most commonly used State industrial awards.
Workplace visits and safety notices
At April 30 2005 health and safety inspectors visited more than 16 500 workplaces and issued more than 12 700 safety notices, requiring employers to comply with their obligations.
Health and safety prosecutions
At April 30 2005 Workplace Health and Safety Queensland completed more than 150 prosecutions resulting in fines of $2.92 million.
Electrical safety investigations and notices
In 2004-2005 the Electrical Safety office conducted more than *1900 investigations and issued more than *1700 notices.
*Estimated actuals for 2004-05
Last updated November 3, 2006
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