Interaction between the NMSF and National OHS Harmonisation
On 4 April 2008, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, announced a National Review into Model Occupational Health and Safety Laws (the National Review), to report to the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council on the optimal content and structure of a model OHS Act capable of being adopted in all jurisdictions.
On 18 May 2009, the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council directed Safe Work Australia to develop a Model OHS Act and supporting regulations consistent with the Council’s response to the National Review.
The implementation of the National Mine Safety Framework will involve a number of ongoing activities to ensure the goal of national consistency is achieved. These ongoing activities will be progressed to ensure consistency with the outcomes of the National Review and the model OHS legislation being developed by Safe Work Australia.
The NMSF Steering Group is primarily focussed on areas specific to the mining industry to avoid overlap with the model OHS legislation. In particular, the NMSF Steering Group is developing Drafting Instructions and Example Clauses that are consistent with and complementary to the model OHS legislation and that can be utilised for the drafting of any legislative instrument, depending on any government decisions regarding the structure of industry-specific OHS legislative instruments.
The National Mine Safety Framework Secretariat continues to work closely with Safe Work Australia regarding the implementation of the National Mine Safety Framework, to ensure consistency and a continued collaborative approach to OHS reform.