THE Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations has announced a national review into model Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislations.
A panel of three will review the OHS laws in each State, Territory and Commonwealth jurisdiction and find the best and most optimal structure and content. The ultimate aim is to create an OHS act which can be adopted in all jurisdictions.
This is the first step towards harmonising OHS laws nationally, smoothing out the current inter-state differences in form, detail and other matters such duty holders and duties, defence mechanisms, compliance regimes and penalties.
According to the Federal Government, OHS legislation will be harmonised within five years. The panel is expected to provide a progress report in May 2008, and to finalise its report and recommendations by 30 January 2009.
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