Chairperson's report
Chairperson's report
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I am pleased to report on the activities of the Seafarers Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Authority (Seacare Authority) for the year ending30 June 2003. This is my fourth annual report as Chairperson, having been appointed by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (the Minister) in September 1999 and reappointed in September 2001 for a further three years. |
The past year has undoubtedly been one of the busiest, and arguably the most important, in the life of the Authority, which has now been operating for just over10 years. The Authority has presided over a number of important initiatives and developments during 2002–03.
The past year represented the first full year in which the Authority managed the Seafarers Safety Net Fund. The Fund provides a safety net for seafarers for whom there is no extant employer against which to make a claim. The collection of a levy from employers to support the Fund, the management of financial reporting in accordance with the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997, the provision of regular advice to the Minister, the negotiations with the insurance market in seeking insurance for the Fund and consideration of claims received by the Fund, created a heavy demand on the Authority and staff.
During 2002-03, the formal transfer of support for the Authority from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to Comcare took place, following commencement of certain sections of the Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment Act 2002 on 11 June 2003. Although staff that support the Authority have been co-located with Comcare since 1 July 2002, the formalisation of the transfer provides new opportunities to establish cooperation and synergies with an expert regulator.
A highlight of the year was the conduct of the inaugural Sea Safe-Work Awards, and OHS Conference, held on 3 April 2003. I am pleased to report that the Awards presentation attracted strong participation and accolades from all sections of the maritime industry. The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Tony Abbott MP, presented major awards and delivered the keynote address. His presence added to the prestige of the Awards. The Authority plans to conduct the next Awards program late next year, including a conjoint OHS conference.
Strategically, the Authority made strong headway in a number of areas. In November 2002 the Authority provided advice to the Minister on its stage one legislation review priorities. Stage two of the review of the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992 (Seafarers Act) and the Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) Act 1993 (OHS(MI) Act) has commenced. There view follows an invitation to the Authority by the Minister for advice on what changes to legislation might be required to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Seacare scheme.
In occupational health and safety, the Authority has committed to the national target date of 31 December 2003 for the prohibition on the use of asbestos in maritime industry workplaces. A regulation to give effect to the prohibition is being drafted. In addition, the Authority, under guidance of its OHS Standards Task Force, has committed to a program for adoption of all applicable national OHS standards.
I am pleased to report that the Authority has adopted OHS performance improvement targets for the maritime industry, consistent with the National OHS Strategy. The maritime industry target required a 4% reduction in the injury incidence rate in 2002–03 — the scheme achieved a reduction of 7%, which is outstanding. The target also aims for no work related fatalities during the year. Again, I can proudly report that the target was achieved, bringing to eight years the period without a work related fatality. These outcomes are a testament to the excellent injury prevention work being undertaken by all scheme stakeholders, though much more work remains to be done. Continuous vigilance remains the key to good injury prevention.
The Authority also published a new brochure on manual handling and body stressing hazards which has been well received.
Following release of a package of best practice guidance material on rehabilitation and return to work, the Authority's Annual Report is reporting for the second year against a set of rehabilitation and return to work benchmarks. The data suggests that more work is required to improve scheme rehabilitation and return to work. As a result, this issue is a high priority on the 2003–04 Seacare Business Plan.
To assist in identifying return to work performance, the Authority once again participated in the Australasian Return to Work Monitor, a national survey of the rehabilitation and return to work experience of injured employees. The Seacare scheme also participated in the national Comparative Performance Monitoring (CPM) Report, which provides comparative data on occupational health and safety, workers' compensation and return to work across Australian and New Zealand schemes.
Scheme costs remain an important focus for the Authority. Improved data on workers' compensation insurance premiums, legal costs in the scheme and on long tail claims is now available and will form the basis for policy responses to cost drivers in the Seacare scheme in the coming year.
The Authority continues to place a high priority on its communications with the industry. During the year the Authority approved an upgrading of its previous Quarterly Report to a revamped and more informative Seacare News.
I would like to record my appreciation to all members of the Authority who continue to demonstrate a strong commitment to making the maritime industry a safer place to work, as well as recognising the importance of a robust system to assist seafarers who sustain an injury or contract a work-related disease. I also wish to acknowledge the important role played by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority as the OHS Inspectorate and AMICA as the Seacare scheme claims database manager, and partner with Seacare in administering the Seafarers Safety Net Fund.
Finally I wish to record the appreciation of the Authority to the dedicated staff of the Seacare Management Group who support the Authority, ably supported by Comcare, and to the Department which supported the smooth transition to Comcare.
Geoff Gronow ED
Chairperson Seafarers Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Authority
September 2003