Occupational Health & Safety and Workers' Compensation

The lives of Australian workers and members of the community are being placed at risk by exposure to imported products containing asbestos. Unions and asbestos support groups will meet Government and Opposition MPs in Canberra today to call for bi-partisan support for more resources and better enforcement of Australia's ban…

A Senate committee has recommended passing legislation which will leave nearly 400,000 workers covered under Comcare, the national workers' compensation scheme, with inadequate cover if they are injured or ill at work. Unions are disappointed the Senate committee examining the Abbott Government's Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Comcare) Bill has recommended…

Occupational cancers kill at a rate of more than once a minute worldwide, according to a comprehensive review of the available evidence by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). Click here to read this on the ITUC website The global union body, speaking out ahead of the 28 April International…

Every year on 28 April, people around the world mark International Workers' Memorial Day. It's a time to remember those who have not returned home due to work-related deaths, those who have been injured or made ill as a result of work and, importantly, to remember that we have to…

Company Directors would be made personally liable for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) fines resulting from workplace death, even if they restructure their business to avoid payment. The ACTU calls on the government to strengthen national OHS laws and make directors personally fined and/or jailed for up to 20 years…

Injured workers will be worse off under the Abbott Government's plans to expand Comcare – the national OHS and worker's compensation scheme. The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Bill will allow employers who operate in multiple states to exit state and territory workers compensation schemes and self-insure under Comcare. This will…

Unions have ensured that thousands of Australians suffering from asbestos related diseases will continue to be properly compensated, said the ACTU. After campaigning by unions and asbestos victim support groups, the NSW government has agreed to lend the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund an extra $104 million to cover a shortfall…

Unions will take legal action to block any application to the Supreme Court to have asbestos victims paid compensation in instalments. In a unanimous vote, the ACTU Executive committed to the action in response to a shortfall in the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund (AICF) set up to compensate asbestos sufferers.…

Unions have been left with little confidence James Hardie will honour its responsibility to compensate asbestos victims following a meeting with the company this week. ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver met senior management on Monday to discuss concerns about a shortfall in the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund set up to pay…

Convened by the Australian Services Union - SA&NT Branch, SA Unions and the ACTU, the Seminar will discuss union good practice for preventing and responding to workplace bullying and seek to identify possible ongoing priorities. You can read this item on the SA&NT Branch website here Participation is invited from…