Ms WALKER - 2015-02-18
Yesterday our brave Territory firefighters laid helmets on the steps of Parliament House to represent the lives lost and firefighters who have succumbed to cancer on the job. You have had two years to introduce legislation to support our firefighters who have contracted cancer on the job. Will you now separate this legislation from the shameful reductions in workers compensation you are flagging and introduce it on urgency next week?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, before I refer this matter to the Minister for Business, who is working on that legislation, I remind Territorians it was fantastic to see so many Labor members outside yesterday when there was a demonstration at the front of Parliament House. I do not recall a time they stood outside Parliament House during any demonstration when they were in government.
If this was so important to the Labor Party of the Northern Territory why did they not do anything about this when they were in government? I will refer …
Ms Manison: You have sat on this for two years!
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please pause. Member for Wanguri, I know what is happening. You are on a warning.
Mr CHANDLER: Madam Speaker, I refer this question to the Minister for Business.
Mr STYLES (Business): Madam Speaker, I thank the minister. Yesterday the Labor Opposition Leader engaged in a cynical scam with firefighters as the pawns …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 62: offensive.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, withdraw those comments. Rephrase your words.
Mr STYLES: I withdraw and I will rephrase. Yesterday the Labor Opposition Leader engaged in a sham, with firefighters as the pawns ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 62: offensive. It is not a sham. These are firefighters with cancer.
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down. It is not a point of order.
Mr STYLES: The Opposition Leader promised if she ever became the Chief Minister – God help the Territory if that ever happens – one of her first actions would be to introduce presumptive legislation for firefighters.
This is hypocrisy of the worst kind from the Leader of the Opposition. The Labor Opposition Leader could have done something real to help firefighters. As the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services said, they had 11 years to do this and did nothing. We have been in for two years and we are about to bring the legislation into the House. What a sham and a disgrace by members opposite. The CLP government has taken action and we will soon see the introduction of the presumptive legislation for Territory firefighters. The opposition knows this too well.
I will highlight some of the key points. It is documented that the Territory government has made a decision to provide presumptive legislation for firefighters, including volunteer firefighters from Police, Fire and Emergency Services, and Bushfires NT. That is not something they proposed. The legislation will be retrospective to 25 August 2012. The amendments will make processing claims for workers compensation less cumbersome for firefighters, and recognises firefighters are at greater risk of developing certain types of cancers as a result of exposure to hazardous substances whilst performing firefighting activities.
Under the legislation, if a career firefighter is diagnosed with one of the 12 cancers listed in the schedule and served as a firefighter for the relevant qualifying period, it will be presumed the cancer is an occupational disease and therefore compensable.
The bill has been drafted and will come before the House shortly. This follows a comprehensive review by the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Advisory Council. Cabinet has accepted all the recommendations of the review and includes firefighters’ presumptive legislation. You are a disgrace.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, before I refer this matter to the Minister for Business, who is working on that legislation, I remind Territorians it was fantastic to see so many Labor members outside yesterday when there was a demonstration at the front of Parliament House. I do not recall a time they stood outside Parliament House during any demonstration when they were in government.
If this was so important to the Labor Party of the Northern Territory why did they not do anything about this when they were in government? I will refer …
Ms Manison: You have sat on this for two years!
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please pause. Member for Wanguri, I know what is happening. You are on a warning.
Mr CHANDLER: Madam Speaker, I refer this question to the Minister for Business.
Mr STYLES (Business): Madam Speaker, I thank the minister. Yesterday the Labor Opposition Leader engaged in a cynical scam with firefighters as the pawns …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 62: offensive.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, withdraw those comments. Rephrase your words.
Mr STYLES: I withdraw and I will rephrase. Yesterday the Labor Opposition Leader engaged in a sham, with firefighters as the pawns ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 62: offensive. It is not a sham. These are firefighters with cancer.
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down. It is not a point of order.
Mr STYLES: The Opposition Leader promised if she ever became the Chief Minister – God help the Territory if that ever happens – one of her first actions would be to introduce presumptive legislation for firefighters.
This is hypocrisy of the worst kind from the Leader of the Opposition. The Labor Opposition Leader could have done something real to help firefighters. As the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services said, they had 11 years to do this and did nothing. We have been in for two years and we are about to bring the legislation into the House. What a sham and a disgrace by members opposite. The CLP government has taken action and we will soon see the introduction of the presumptive legislation for Territory firefighters. The opposition knows this too well.
I will highlight some of the key points. It is documented that the Territory government has made a decision to provide presumptive legislation for firefighters, including volunteer firefighters from Police, Fire and Emergency Services, and Bushfires NT. That is not something they proposed. The legislation will be retrospective to 25 August 2012. The amendments will make processing claims for workers compensation less cumbersome for firefighters, and recognises firefighters are at greater risk of developing certain types of cancers as a result of exposure to hazardous substances whilst performing firefighting activities.
Under the legislation, if a career firefighter is diagnosed with one of the 12 cancers listed in the schedule and served as a firefighter for the relevant qualifying period, it will be presumed the cancer is an occupational disease and therefore compensable.
The bill has been drafted and will come before the House shortly. This follows a comprehensive review by the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Advisory Council. Cabinet has accepted all the recommendations of the review and includes firefighters’ presumptive legislation. You are a disgrace.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016