Workplaces in South Australia and Tasmania will soon be made even safer with the introduction of harmonised Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws effective from 1 January 2013.

 Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten said that this means, 64 in every hundred working Australians will be covered by modern, best practice and consistent laws.

“This year marks the first time in history the majority of Australians will be covered by harmonised work health and safety arrangements,” Mr Shorten said.

 “Workers and employers in South Australia and Tasmania will join millions of other Australians already benefiting from harmonised WHS laws in other states and territories.

 “This will result in more productive workplaces, but more importantly it will provide safer workplaces so that all working Australians can return home to their loved ones at the end of their working day.”

 “Peak industry organisations, unions, governments and businesses across the country have been clamouring for harmonised health and safety laws for many years.

 “The Gillard Government is now delivering these new arrangements, which include an agreed model Act, and Regulations and Codes of Practice.”

 Harmonised WHS laws will reduce red tape and deliver safer workplaces and are estimated to generate national net benefits of $250 million each year over the next 10 years. The laws are also expected to generate productivity improvements of up to $2 billion a year over the same period.

 “Our most important resource is our people - giving them certainty and greater safety at work is vitally important,” Mr Shorten.

 “With this in mind, I now call on Victoria and Western Australia to introduce their Bills, so workers in these states may also benefit from harmonised laws.”

 Mr Shorten’s Media Contact: Jessica Lindell 0408 642 804