POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NEW SOUTH WALES
PO Box A1097, Sydney South, NSW 1232
PHONE: (02) 9265 6777
FAX: (02) 9265 6789
EAGLENET 57071
Embargoed: 1am Monday 16 November
Cops stripped of OH&S protections
Frontline police could be stripped of critical safety protections under
Federal Government plans to bring in national Occupational Health and
Safety laws, the Police Association of NSW said today.
Police officers from around Australian will meet in Canberra today to
launch a national campaign against the changes, which could lead to
material reductions in police safety.
Police Association of NSW Vice President Scott Weber said under the new
laws there may be no obligation for the government to provide officers
involved in highly dangerous cases with the best possible protection.
“What we’ve got in the latest draft of the Act is a proposal that could
effectively strip police of their right to protection and waters down the
government's obligations to provide our police with a safe workplace, in
the very situations that are most dangerous” Mr Weber said.
“These are the people charged with protecting our communities – we can’t
have them going out onto the streets, putting their lives on the line, with
inadequate protection for themselves and their families.
“The harmonisation of laws is fine, but the dilution of protection certainly
isn’t.
“Police go into the job knowing full well they’re putting their lives at risk,
but that shouldn’t mean they have to forfeit the full rights every other
worker in Australia has.
“Every other employer has an obligation to do everything possible to at all
times ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees – why
should our police officers’ employer, the government, be any different? “
Media contact:
Scott Weber, 0401 709 342
Alana Mew, 0423 377 567
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