ARTICLE · 03 DECEMBER 2008

Report On National Harmonisation Of OHS Laws Released

Norton Rose Fulbright Australia

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In our July issue we reported on the appointment by the Workplace Relations Ministers' Council of an advisory panel tasked with the job of preparing two reports on the optimal content of a model OHS Act for adoption throughout Australia. The panel's first report has now been released.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Maria Saraceni

Kathryn Bion

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In our July issue we reported on the appointment by the Workplace Relations Ministers' Council of an advisory panel tasked with the job of preparing two reports on the optimal content of a model OHS Act for adoption throughout Australia. The panel's first report has now been released.

Overview

The report contains 75 recommendations relating to the following issues:

the primary duty of care to be enshrined within the model OHS Act

the standard of conduct required to comply with the duty and the standard of proof that applies to prosecutions for breach

additional duties to be imposed on specific persons

the obligations of company directors and officers

the manner in which OHS offences should be prosecuted

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