CHAPTER 2
Review of annual reports
2.1
This chapter examines selected annual reports from three statutory
agencies in greater detail, and provides the Senate with information that may
be of particular interest.
Asbestos Safety and Eradication Authority
2.2
The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Authority (ASEA) was established on
1 July 2013 under the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Act 2013
(the ASEA Act). The ASEA's primary duties include encouraging, coordinating,
monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the National Strategic
Plan for Asbestos Awareness and Removal 2013-2018 (the National Strategic
Plan), which prescribes a national approach to asbestos eradication, handling
and awareness in Australia.[1]
2.3
One of the agency's first tasks, on direction from the Minister for
Employment, Senator the Hon Eric Abetz, was to review and redraft the National
Strategic Plan.[2]
Concerns had been raised about certain aspects of the plan, such as the
practicality of the asbestos removal deadline of 2030, the lack of clear
costing and safety analysis, and the potential for duplication in regulatory
processes. The ASEA worked with states, territories and other stakeholders to
incorporate this feedback into a revised draft plan, which was released for
comment in June 2014.[3]
2.4
In its first year, the ASEA undertook other necessary preparatory work
in support of its aims. The agency developed and tested a range of tools and
methodologies to identify, assess and grade asbestos materials in the built
environment, and to map authorised disposal sites.[4]
In addition, it undertook a baseline awareness survey, established a national
register of asbestos exposure and implemented online registration systems.[5]
This work was guided by the six overarching strategy goals of the National
Strategic Plan:
- awareness;
- best
practice;
- identification;
- removal;
- research;
and
- international
leadership.[6]
2.5
The ASEA oversaw the setup of the Asbestos Safety and Eradication
Council and its secretariat, with six meetings convened during the reporting
period.[7]
In conjunction with Comcare, the ASEA held the first National Asbestos Forum.
2.6
The ASEA also undertook additional work to coordinate the National
Taskforce – Asbestos Safety in Telstra Infrastructure (the Taskforce), which
was established following reports of unsafe handling of asbestos materials
during the cabling rollout of the National Broadband Network.[8]
The Taskforce ensured that employees, contractors and the public were protected
from exposure to airborne asbestos fibres. Fourteen independent monitors
conducted over 500 site visits involving 80 contractors, with no major
incidents of asbestos exposure reported.[9]
The ASEA subsequently commenced a review of asbestos training in the utilities
sector.[10]
2.7
The report notes the ASEA's intention to continue to build upon this
work during the 2014-15 year by, for example, using the results of its initial
research to address gaps in knowledge and tailor its communications, convening
the inaugural International Conference on Asbestos Awareness and Management,
working to remove asbestos in remote Indigenous communities, strengthening
asbestos training, and developing protocols in relation to the importation of
products containing asbestos.[11]
2.8
The committee congratulates the ASEA on its first report and looks
forward to learning more about its progress in future annual reports.
Safe Work Australia
2.9
Safe Work Australia (SWA) is a statutory agency established under the Safe
Work Australia Act 2008. SWA leads the development of national work health
and safety policy and workers' compensation across Australia. SWA is jointly
funded by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments.[12]
2.10
Throughout the reporting period, the SWA worked to achieve the outcomes
set out in both its Strategic Plan 2013-2016 and its Operational Plan
2013-2014, as well as the broader action areas outlined in the Australian
Work Health And Safety Strategy 2012-2022 (the Australian Strategy).
2.11
Safe Work Australia’s 2013-14 PBS outlines a single program structure
with the outcome statement: 'healthier, safer and more productive workplaces
through improvements to Australian work health and safety and workers’
compensation arrangements'. Performance against this outcome is measured by six
strategies and three key performance indicators (KPIs) also outlined in the
PBS. SWA met all its KPIs for the fifth consecutive year.
2.12
In her overview, Chief Executive Officer Ms Michelle Baxter noted that
in the decade preceding the reporting period, work-related deaths fell by 33
per cent and serious compensation claims fell by 29 per cent.[13]
However, she also noted the troubling trend that the median time lost following
compensation for an injury resulting in at least one week off work has
gradually increased over the last seven years from four to five working weeks.
2.13
During the reporting period, the agency had a particular focus on the
agriculture and road transport industries.[14]
In consultation with its members, the SWA developed the National Agriculture
Activity Plan 2014-2019 and began the development of guidance material to
support rural workplaces in their safe management of plants and livestock. SWA
partnered with the National Transport Commission to provide health screenings
to over 1 041 truck drivers at 12 designated truck stops across four states.[15]
SWA also published two data reports about the transport industry and collated a
number of case studies relating to activities and programs being carried out
under the Australian Strategy.
2.14
The committee commends SWA on a thorough and informative report.
Workplace Gender Equality Agency
2.15
The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) is a statutory agency
established under the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (the WGEA Act).
The Director of the WGEA, Ms Helen Conway, noted in the report that the agency
receives generous financial and in-kind support from a range of individual and
organisational partners.[16]
2.16
The WGEA exceeded three of its four KPIs:
- Percentage
of women in leadership including governing board members, key management
personnel and other managers;
- Percentage
of relevant employers with a strategy or policy to support employees with
family and caring responsibilities; and
- Number
of visits to the agency website.[17]
The agency did not
meet its remaining KPI: percentage of relevant employers conducting gender
remuneration gap analyses. The report notes that many employers who do not
conduct this analysis do not do so because pay is set by awards, industrial
agreements, or 'market rates'.[18]
2.17
The 2013-14 year marked the first full year of reporting under the WGEA
Act. The WGEA will use the data collected to prepare customised, confidential
benchmark reports to enable employers to compare their gender performance to
their peers' performance, identify areas for improvement and track the
effectiveness of their gender equality strategies over time.[19]
These reports will be released alongside a gender equality strategy toolkit.
The data will also be available in aggregated form.
2.18
Under the new reporting framework, the WGEA began collecting data from
reporting organisations against the gender equality indicators which will feed
into customised and confidential benchmark reports that will be distributed to
compliant reporting organisations in late calendar year. The Agency also ran
workshops and teleconferences to equip employers with the information needed on
how to report and comply with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012.
2.19
During the reporting period, the WGEA published a series of ‘perspective
papers’ synthesising academic literature on issues contributing to gender
inequality, updated eight fact sheets and published an interactive data centre.[20]
The agency also contributed to a range of research conducted by academic and
government institutions and responded to 54 external requests for information
and data.[21]
2.20
The WGEA uses media engagement to raise public awareness of gender
equality issues. In the 2013-14 year the agency issued seven media releases and
achieved 395 media mentions. Over 93% of all media coverage was either positive
or neutral. Between July 2013 and June 2014, their website received almost
250,000 visits.
2.21
The committee finds the report to be well presented and easily
navigated, and particularly appreciates the inclusion of clear, informative
appendices.
Comments made in the Senate
2.32 The committee is obliged, under
Senate Standing Order 25(20)(d), to consider any remarks made about these
reports in the Senate. The committee is satisfied that there were no such
comments to include.
Bodies not presenting annual reports to the Senate
2.33 The committee is required to
report to the Senate each year on whether there are any bodies not presenting
annual reports to the Senate which should. The committee is satisfied that
there are no such bodies at this time.
Senator Bridget McKenzie
Chair
Navigation: Previous Page | Contents | Next Page