Safety Bulletin - May 2023
Queensland – Anti-discrimination legislation overhaul to be supported
The Queensland Government has released its response to the report reviewing the State’s Anti-Discrimination Act 1991. The Government has given in-principle support to all recommendations and has stated that a Bill will be introduced to replace the current legislation within the current term of government. Other recommendations include introducing a positive duty for discrimination and sexual harassment elimination, changing a positive duty to reasonably accommodate a person with a disability, allowing organisation complaints to be treated the same as individual complaints, and changing terms to more appropriate language.
Read the The Queensland Government’s statement here.
South Australia – Feedback requested for proposed tobacco and e-cigarette regulations
The South Australian Government is seeking feedback on the Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products (Smoking Bans) Amendment Regulations 2023, which proposes to increase penalty and expiation fees, change smoke-free areas, and allow for ‘smoking permitted’ signs to be displayed, among other things. Comments close 14 May 2023.
Victoria – Building reforms Bill introduced
The Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 has been introduced to Parliament following a three-year review of building regulation. The Bill will introduce several changes including strengthening and formalising the role of the State Building Surveyor and oversight of building surveyors, establishing a Building Monitor to represent consumer interests, and requiring builders and building surveyors to provide more information about their work to customers. The proposed changes will also widen the range of registered building industry participants, update governance arrangements for the Architects Registration Board, and enhance monitoring of building standards with more information sharing between government agencies.