Work Health and Safety Advisory Council
Meeting Minutes and Communique from February 2023
The council accepted the previous meeting minutes and communique from February 2023.
Review planned activities 2022/2023
An update was provided to the Council at agenda items below:
Presentation – Director Investigations and Director Technical Services
Anthony Waite, Director Technical Services and Tanya McKeon, Director Investigations gave the Council a presentation on the Investigation and Enforceable Undertakings processes.
General update from NT WorkSafe
a. National and Local update on Work Health and Safety Focus
The Work Health Authority provided the Council with an update on topical matters being raised nationally and locally.
The Council noted the update and agreed that no further action would be taken.
b. Prosecution/ Department of Public Prosecutions approval
The Council will provide NT WorkSafe with a further time period, at the next Council meeting in which to communicate with the DPP and liaise with him as to his current workload, response timeframe to NTWS on the above matters and noting the possibility of legislative amendment to assist him and to release him from the requirement of s231A in circumstances where he is not able to meet the timeframe set by the Act.
This item was noted by the Council.
c. Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
At the last Council meeting, a number of concerns were raised by the Councils Unions NT representative regarding HSRs and their role under the act.
The Work Health Authority clarified the concerns raised by Unions NT and the Council considered options whereby positive relationships between HSRs and NT WorkSafe inspectors may be promoted.
The Council noted the response and a further update will be provided by the Work Health Authority.
d. Tim Lyons and Marie Boland reports
Of the 23 recommendations from the Lyons review, three of the recommendations remain outstanding.
The Council noted the updates.
e. Injured Workers and Family Forum
The Injured Workers and Family Forum consulted extensively and has provided its report and recommendations on the issues raised by recommendations 4 and 5 to the Minister. Details of the recommendations and NT Government’s response to same are set out in correspondence from the Attorney General to Work Health and Safety Advisory Council and Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Advisory Council in November 2022. NT WorkSafe is tasked with attending to consider and implement recommendations that have been accepted.
The Work Health Authority Provided the Council with a detailed update on each recommendation and further updates will be provided at each Council meeting.
Other business
There was no other business
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be scheduled in May 2023.