VOLUNTEER BUSH FIRE
BRIGADES
763. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Minister for Industrial
Relations:
I refer to recent discussions
between the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety and key
stakeholder groups representing volunteer firefighters.
(1) Has the
government undertaken an assessment of the type and number of volunteer
organisations that will be captured by the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 as a
result of them being deemed as persons conducting a business or undertaking?
(2) If yes to (1), will the
minister please table the results of the government's assessment?
(3) What
assistance is the government aiming to provide to volunteer organisations
deemed as a PCBU?
(4) With specific
reference to volunteer bush fire brigades, what entity is deemed as a PCBU—that
is, is it a brigade itself, a local government or the Department of Fire and
Emergency Services?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON
replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has not undertaken an
assessment of the type and number of volunteer organisations, as it does not
anticipate that a significant number of volunteer organisations would be PCBUs
pursuant to the Work Health and Safety Act 2020. Further, DMIRS does not envisage a material change for the vast
majority of volunteer organisations, which already have similar duties
under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) DMIRS is
developing a public information campaign to advise PCBUs of the impending
implementation of the WHS act and their
duties. DMIRS is developing specific materials as part of the campaign to
provide advice to volunteers.
(4) All government
departments, including DFES and local governments, meet the definition of a PCBU
under the WHS act. A volunteer association does not conduct a business or
undertaking for the purposes of this act if it does not employ anyone.