SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE DIGITAL ECONOMY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION AND THE FUTURE OF WORK
Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Minister for Employment
Parliament Office
PO Box 6100
Canberra ACT 2600
our tin Machel ie
| write in reference to the Employment Department's internal review that recommended
changes to workplace health and safety practices following a tragic fatality that occurred
on a Toowoomba Work for the Dole site last April
| understand that the internal review was completed late last year but has not been
Publicly released, despite repeated requests by the Opposition for this to occur.
‘The Opposition believes there is a vital requirement for the Government to spell out the
concrete steps taken to improve workplace safety in this program.
This is especially so considering subsequent reports about other workplace safety
incidents last year that potentially compromised other program participants, most notably
where one participant was exposed to asbestos on a South Australian worksite.
Besides Opposition's attempts to obtain the release of this internal review, | understand
the Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union (AUWU) submitted a Freedom of Information
request to obtain documents related to the fatality and was refused by the Department of
Employment. Of further concer, the AUWU has also claimed that - in relation to the
‘same Toowoomba incident - another participant who worked on the worksite expressed
reservations about driving the vehicle used in the incident but was directed to do so or
risk penalties.
Safety is one main area of complaint by Work for the Dole participants according to the
AUWU and it appears the number of injuries has increased in recent years.
H/2|Considering this — and the fact that the adequacy of workpiace safety protections are
also being questioned for participants in the soon to be launched PaTH program - it is
crucial the community is made aware of measures taken by the government to reduce
the recurrence of workplace safety incidents and their success in achieving improved
safety outcomes.
| urge you to release this review and | trust this request will be met favourably,
Yours sincerely,
The Hon Ed Husic MP att