Senator Eric Abetz

The response by Safe Work Australia Chair, Mr Tom Phillips to valid concerns raised by volunteer organisations about the new Work Health and Safety laws is both disingenuous and unhelpful, according to Opposition Workplace Relations spokesman Senator Eric Abetz.

"To dismiss the valid concerns by the volunteer sector as 'inaccurate and alarmist' without engaging in the detail is a disservice to the community as well as being disingenuous," Senator Abetz said.

"To suggest the new law applies as it previously did is simply wrong because the new laws have changed the established law substantially by removing the well established 'control' test amongst other things – so it is changing the definition and increasing the penalty regime. This is new. To suggest otherwise is disingenuous."

"To suggest that 'there is unlikely to be a prosecution of a volunteer…' is cold comfort given we are dealing with new laws, new definitions and new penalties."

"The Coalition have previously raised these concerns on behalf of the volunteer sector in the Senate. Clearly the responses provided have not been satisfactory."

"Indeed, the very last line of the release by the Chair acknowledges 'the new Work Health Safety laws ensure that volunteers receive the highest level of protection wherever they perform their work…'."

"That high level of protection will only come with huge insurance premiums attached and bureaucratic red tape making it less likely for people to continue their volunteering efforts."

"It is the government's responsibility to support and nurture the volunteer sector not to tie it up in red tape and drive them out through exorbitant insurance premiums."

"If Mr Phillips' disingenuous claims were correct then why would Minister Shorten now be preparing to meet with Volunteer organisations to discuss this important matter?"

“The Chair’s denegration of the concerns expressed by organisations as diverse as Meals-on-Wheels, the Anglican Church and Scouts does not enhance the position of Safe Work Australia in the eyes of the community.”

"The Coalition will continue to pursue the matter at the forthcoming Senate Estimates," Senator Abetz concluded.