Budget highlights 2006-07
Safe, fair and productive workplaces
Fair Go Queensland
Smart Workplaces initiative
Child employment legislation
Reduced workers' compensation premiums
Inspection activity July 2005-March 2006
Safe, fair and productive workplaces
The Department of Industrial Relations' $99 million Budget allocation for 2006-07, an increase of 5.3 per cent, will be used to expand workplace health and safety, electrical safety and industrial relations services for employers and workers.
The department will continue to focus on providing Queensland workers and employers with advice and information about the federal government's Work Choices legislation and contribute $250 000 to the Queensland Government's High Court challenge to the new laws.
An additional $3.5 million will enhance workplace health and safety services to Queensland and extend services to industries including manufacturing, construction, transport and storage. This includes $1.2 million for additional inspectors to assist in the implementation of new asbestos management regulations.
Fair Go Queensland
The department has established two new services to help employers and workers navigate their way through the maze of information as a result of the federal government's new workplace laws.
The Fair Go Queensland Advisory Service and the Compare What's Fair online pay calculator provide practical assistance to workers and employers in dealing with the impacts of the new laws.
Smart Workplaces initiative
A total of $500 000 will be made available under a Smart Workplaces initiative to provide advice to businesses on 'best practice' models for cooperative and safe workplaces. The 'best practice' modelling will be trialled with a range of employers and focus on improving workplace health and safety, relationships and cultures at work.
Child employment legislation
The Child Employment Act 2006 (PDF, 619 KB) and its supporting regulation will commence 1 July 2006. It will better protect children 11-15 years old from performing work that could be harmful to their health, safety or personal development and to ensure working does not interfere with their schooling.
Two codes of practice will support the legislation - a workplace health and safety code of practice for young workers and a code of practice for employing young people in the entertainment industry.
Reduced workers' compensation premiums
Improved safety performance has contributed to a 16 per cent reduction in the average workers' compensation premium rate. The rate has reduced from $1.43 to $1.20 for every $100 in wages paid since July 2005.
The following table shows that as of 1 July 2006 Queensland continued to have the lowest average workers' compensation premium rate compared to the other states and the Commonwealth.
| Qld | Vic | WA | NSW | Tas | SA | Commonwealth |
| $1.20 | $1.80* | $2.13 | $2.17 | $2.45* | $3.00* | $1.77* |
* 2005-06 rates
Inspection activity July 2005-March 2006
Workplace health and safety
Inspectors visited more than 13 300 workplaces and issued more than 15 000 compliance notices. In this period there were more than 130 successful prosecutions resulting in fines of $2.8 million.
In 2006-07 inspectors will target a number of areas including labour hire in food processing, and rural mobile plant in cropping and dairy industries.
Industrial relations
Inspectors investigated more than 5000 complaints, issued more than 40 on-the-spot fines.
and completed almost 1400 general audits. More than 100 prosecutions were undertaken and more than $7.5 million of wages were recovered.
In the coming year inspectors will focus on auditing workplaces which employ children under the age of 16 as well as the hospitality and transport industries.
Last updated 6 June 2006
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