Key Points
A Rebecca White Labor Government will deliver for Tasmanian workers and set a fairer playing field.
We will make workplaces safer and bring together workers, unions and business to make Tasmania a better place to work and run a business.
As part of our Plan, Labor will:
- Put workers’ voices back on important Government Boards
- Introduce labour hire licensing laws, including the creation of a compliance unit
- Reform the Statutory Holidays Act to more fairly recognise public holidays
- Make wage theft a crime, consistent with Federal legislation
- Develop a structure for portable long service leave for workers in the community sector, contract cleaning and contract security
- Establish a Workers’ Rights Centre to provide advice, support and education to vulnerable workers to know and enforce their rights at work
- Review and better resource WorkSafe
- Legislate, as a priority, Industrial Manslaughter laws
- Ban silica and engineered stone by 1 July 2024
- Review the Asbestos Compensation Scheme with a view to expand to all dust diseases
- Increase penalties for assaults on frontline workers
- Amend legislation to provide protection for whistleblowers who speak out about their workplace
- Review and amend as required the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1998
- Introduce laws to protect the rights of young people at work (Child Labour Laws).
Why we need it
After a decade in government, the Liberals have failed to prioritise workers’ rights and workplace safety. Tasmania is the only state or territory that is not progressing Industrial Manslaughter legislation.
“A Rebecca White Labor Government will tackle the causes of crime to reduce offending and make our communities safer places to live and work”
The Liberals have eroded the workplace safety regulator. They have overseen a decade of insecure work and low wage growth in a cost of living crisis.
The details
Labor will:
- Prioritise Industrial Manslaughter laws
A Rebecca White Labor Government’s first Workplace Relations priority will be to introduce Industrial Manslaughter legislation, bringing Tasmania in line with the rest of the country.
- Create a new offence to protect frontline workers
A Labor Government will create new offences in the Criminal Code to target offences of assaults, stalking, harassment and intimidation against frontline workers, including health and emergency services, retail, hospitality and transportation workers.
- Introduce labour hire licensing laws
A Labor Government will bring Tasmania in line with mainland states by bringing in Labour Hire Licensing Laws, including a compliance unit, to address exploitation and wage theft within the labour hire industry.
- Stop wage theft
A Labor Government will work with the Federal Government to make consistent wage theft laws in Tasmania.
- Reform the Statutory Holidays Act
Labor will heed the call of workers and legislate to make sure workers on Awards are paid penalty rates or have the day off when a public holiday is on a weekend, and to ensure that Easter Sunday is recognised as a Public Holiday.
- Support portable long service leave
Too many workers on tenuous employment contracts or in transient industries are denied the chance to take long service leave. A Labor Government will follow other states establish portable long service leave schemes for community sector (aged & disability care), contract cleaning and contract security.
- Create a Workers’ Rights Centre
Labor in Government will fund a Workers’ Rights Centre to provide advice, support and education to vulnerable workers to know and enforce their rights at work. The Centre will focus especially on vulnerable cohorts including young workers, migrant workers and older workers.
- Put worker representation on Boards
To ensure workers are represented on boards – in particular on safety, skills and training boards – a Labor Government will put workers voices back on important Government Boards.
- Resource WorkSafe to be fit for purpose
WorkSafe is currently overworked and under-resourced, and needs more support to be a better resource for training, enforcement and investigation. A Labor Government will give WorkSafe the resources it needs.
- Ban silica and other dust
Labor will get on with banning engineered stone. We will work with Safe Work Australia and other state and territory ministers to implement the ban by 1 July 2024.
- Expand the Asbestos Compensation Scheme
Labor in Government will review the Asbestos Compensation Scheme, with a view to expanding eligibility to people affected by all dust diseases.
- Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1998
We will review and amend the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1998 to ensure that Tasmanian workers are protected by legislation that is contemporary and fair.
- Child Labour Laws
Tasmania is the only state or territory without legislation to regulate minimum age of workers and other conditions to protect young workers. A Rebecca White Labor Government will consult with unions and employers on contemporary Child Labour Laws to protect the rights of young workers.