Mr GUNNER - 2014-03-27
Northern Territory firefighters have made the reasonable request for legislation which looks after them if they develop cancer. Medical evidence shows firefighters are at a greater risk of developing cancer and your consultants agree. There are 28 000 people who have signed a petition - the biggest petition this parliament has ever received. Last year, the CLP said firefighters had a political motive for this legislation. This week, you said you now support the principle of our legislation. Our legislation looks after all firefighters, including those who already have cancer.
Do you guarantee you will support legislation which is retrospective and looks after all our firefighters, including those who already have cancer?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the shadow minister for his question. I think I answered a similar question yesterday or Tuesday - I cannot remember which day it was. I said in answer to that question I fully support the principle of the presumptive legislation. I also said it is not just firefighters we support but a range of workers in the Northern Territory. I referred the question to the Minister for Business, who has the workplace legislation on this matter, and I said we are looking at this and how we can support a range of workers in the Northern Territory with the same issues.
The Minister for Business is across this issue on a much more stern level, being in his portfolio. I am not flicking the question, but I will ask the Minister for Business to give a bit more clarity on the issue. I fully support the principle and we are looking forward to the outcome of the review, which I believe comes back at the end of April. I will ask the Minister for Business to provide a bit more clarity and detail.
Mr TOLLNER (Business): Madam Speaker, I thank the Chief Minister, he is right; a work health review has been going on for some time now. This is because it is the first time in more than 30 years the act has been reviewed. It is undergoing a very detailed and robust assessment. The draft has been up for comment for some time and I expect the full report will be with the government by the end of April.
This government has sympathy for the situation of firefighters, but we are looking at a range of different occupations and rather than just pull one out, we would much rather have a look across the board. As I say, it is a very detailed review which is happening at the moment.
Do you guarantee you will support legislation which is retrospective and looks after all our firefighters, including those who already have cancer?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the shadow minister for his question. I think I answered a similar question yesterday or Tuesday - I cannot remember which day it was. I said in answer to that question I fully support the principle of the presumptive legislation. I also said it is not just firefighters we support but a range of workers in the Northern Territory. I referred the question to the Minister for Business, who has the workplace legislation on this matter, and I said we are looking at this and how we can support a range of workers in the Northern Territory with the same issues.
The Minister for Business is across this issue on a much more stern level, being in his portfolio. I am not flicking the question, but I will ask the Minister for Business to give a bit more clarity on the issue. I fully support the principle and we are looking forward to the outcome of the review, which I believe comes back at the end of April. I will ask the Minister for Business to provide a bit more clarity and detail.
Mr TOLLNER (Business): Madam Speaker, I thank the Chief Minister, he is right; a work health review has been going on for some time now. This is because it is the first time in more than 30 years the act has been reviewed. It is undergoing a very detailed and robust assessment. The draft has been up for comment for some time and I expect the full report will be with the government by the end of April.
This government has sympathy for the situation of firefighters, but we are looking at a range of different occupations and rather than just pull one out, we would much rather have a look across the board. As I say, it is a very detailed review which is happening at the moment.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016