MEDIA RELEASE
ACCI represents over 350,000 businesses in every State and Territory and all industries. Our network employs around
4 million employees, ranging from the top 100 companies to tens of thousands of small and medium businesses.
MR 126/10
LEADING AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS
Wednesday 20 October 2010
EMPLOYERS IN UNITED FRONT TO UPHOLD NATIONAL OHS REFORM
Statement by Mr Peter Anderson, Chief Executive
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Australia’s largest and most
representative employer organisation, has joined with other national employer organisations to
oppose the NSW Government’s recent backflip on the national harmonisation of occupational
health and safety laws.
ACCI on behalf of our members, the Australian Federation of Employers and Industries,
Australian Industry Group, Business Council of Australia, and Australian Constructors’
Association, have taken out a joint advertisement in this morning’s Australian and Daily
Telegraph calling for national OHS laws that are effective in improving workplace safety, fair to
all stakeholders, and nationally consistent.
The unilateral decision of the New South Wales Government to derail an exhaustive national
process to develop harmonised national OHS laws threatens to undermine all that has been done
over almost three years to put in place an agreed framework.
“By isolating itself from the agreed national consensus, the NSW Government is sending a very
negative message to industry and investors.”
“ACCI stands shoulder to shoulder with the Australian Government in seeking to have the NSW
OHS laws consigned to the dustbin, and replaced by a fairer and workable model.”
“The NSW laws impose state-sponsored unfairness on industry and turn the concept of legal
justice on its head. They were scathingly criticised by the High Court this year. That alone sends a
message to fair minded citizens that they are bad and unbalanced.”
Reverse onuses of proof, laws impossible to comply with, presumed guilt, union officials acting as
prosecutors and unions pocketing the dollars from fines are stains on the State justice system.
ACCI represents employers on Safe Work Australia and convenes the National Employers
Occupational Health and Safety Forum, which is communicating industry views to governments
on the harmonisation regulations.
For further information:
Peter Anderson Chief Executive 02 6273 2311 / 0417 264 862
David Gregory Director of Workplace Policy 03 9668 9950 / 0417 052 390
Brett Hogan Director of Communications 03 9668 9950 / 0407 273 884
NEWS 
