Work Health and Safety (Health and Safety Fund) Amendment Bill
Wednesday 14 October 2026
S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (16:14): I rise to speak in support of the Work Health and Safety (Health and Safety Fund) Amendment Bill 2026, which will establish a dedicated fund to support practical initiatives aimed at improving work health and safety across South Australia. Every worker should be able to go to work knowing that their health and safety is being taken seriously.
As someone who has proudly represented workers in a range of occupations, from aged-care workers to engineers, I know too well the impact any injury can have on a worker, their colleagues and their family. Whether someone works at a construction site, in a factory, in an office, on a farm or in any other workplace, they have the right to expect that the risks they face are being properly managed.
Workplace safety is a shared responsibility, but that responsibility has to be backed by action. It requires employers to take their obligations seriously, workers to have the knowledge to raise concerns and government to maintain effective regulation and support measures that help to prevent injuries and illnesses before they occur.
This bill delivers on a commitment made by the Malinauskas Labor government at the 2026 election to reinvest money generated from breaches of workplace health and safety laws into initiatives that make the workplace safer. At present, monetary penalties imposed under work health and safety, dangerous substances and explosives legislation are paid into the government's Consolidated Account. Under the amendments before the house, those penalties, along with relevant expiation fees and payments arising from enforceable undertakings, will instead be directed into a dedicated statutory health and safety fund.
That change establishes a clear connection between enforcement and prevention. Where a breach of workplace safety laws has resulted in a financial penalty, that money can be used to support work that helps prevent future incidents rather than simply being absorbed into general government revenue. The purpose is not to change the consequences for businesses or individuals who fail to meet their legal obligations. Those obligations remain, and effective enforcement remains essential. The purpose is to make better use of the money collected through that enforcement by directing it towards initiatives that can improve safety outcomes for workers and employers across the state.
One important aspect of the proposal is the opportunity it creates to support organisations that are already working to improve health and safety. The health and safety fund will provide a formal grants process through which eligible organisations can seek support for initiatives that have a clear workplace safety benefit. This could include education and training, research into workplace hazards, industry-led improvements to safety practices, the development of new technologies and approaches, and projects targeting emerging or particularly high-risk hazards. The range of potential projects is important, because workplace risks are not the same across every industry and are evolving. The challenges faced by workers in construction can differ considerably from those experienced in transport, agriculture or other sectors.
A useful safety initiative needs to respond to the circumstances in which people actually work. Research can better help us understand those risks. Training can give workers and employers the knowledge to manage them. New technology and improved workplace practices can reduce exposure to dangerous conditions. Industry-led projects can also help turn that knowledge into changes that can be adopted more widely. By supporting a range of initiatives, the fund will give organisations with relevant experience the opportunity to develop and deliver projects that respond to real needs in South Australia's workplaces.
Workplace safety works best when both sides are involved. Employers have a responsibility to provide safe working environments, while workers and their union representatives bring valuable knowledge of the hazards they encounter and the practical realities of their jobs. Unions have an important role in representing workers and advocating for safer conditions, and employer associations can help businesses understand their obligations and put effective safety measures in place. Professional bodies, industry organisations and research institutions can contribute specialist knowledge and develop solutions suited to particular workplaces. The fund is intended to support this work on both sides.
The bill provides that SafeWork SA should aim for parity in funding between employee and employer organisations, helping ensure the grants process offers balanced opportunities to those working to improve health and safety. It is also important to be clear about the fund's intended purpose. The money is not intended to meet SafeWork SA's ordinary operating expenses; however, it will support specific projects and initiatives delivered by organisations working to improve safety outcomes throughout South Australia.
The consequences of poor workplace safety can be devastating. An injury can affect a person's ability to work, their independence and their family life. Occupational illnesses can have lasting effects, sometimes emerging only years after exposure to harmful conditions. The most serious incidents can take a life and leave families and colleagues dealing with the consequences forever. Prevention must therefore remain central to our approach. I commend the bill to the house.
