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WORKPLACE MANSLAUGHTER LAWS NOW IN EFFECT IN VICTORIA
Workplace manslaughter is now a criminal offence in Victoria, with laws introduced by the state government coming into effect. Employers found to be negligent will face fines of up to $16.5 million and individuals face up to 25 years in jail. So far this year 25 people across Victoria have lost their lives in workplace incidents. WorkSafe Victoria will investigate new offences of workplace manslaughter using the powers under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. The offence applies to employers, self-employed people and ‘officers’ of the employer. It also applies when an employer’s negligent conduct causes the death of a member of the public. State Government has also broadened the criteria that defines a workplace death. From now this includes fatalities that occur on the road while working, suicides attributable to a workplace health and safety failure, deaths from industrial diseases such as silicosis, and workplace deaths resulting from a criminal act. All of these will be recognised in the WorkSafe toll. Changes mean more Victorians will be entitled to WorkSafe family support services following the death of a loved one at work and broader reporting is hoped to bring increased focus to workplace health and safety issues. To help small and medium sized businesses prepare, the State Government has rolled out a wide ranging education campaign. The laws are supported by a $10 million package to improve investigation and enforcement of workplace safety laws, including a specialist WorkSafe team to lead investigations and prosecutions, and two additional WorkSafe Victoria Family Liaison Officers to give families more support. A Workplace Incidents Consultative Committee will be established to develop further reforms to provide support to those affected by workplace fatalities and serious incidents. This will be supported with $4 million in funding and include people who have lost a family member at work or have suffered a serious workplace injury or illness. Minister for Workplace Safety Jill Hennessy said if an employer’s negligence costs someone their life, they will be prosecuted and may go to jail – that’s now the law. “We’re increasing the support available to The Federal Government has committed $191 million on top of the NSW Government‘s $500 million Fixing Local Roads program. Funding will see $382 million be made available for ready-togo projects able to start in the next 12 months. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack and NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole met in Yass, NSW to announce the package.
Mr. McCormack said the Australian Government’s funding injection is about generating jobs, encouraging spending and stimulating local economies.
“This is money for small projects which
State Government has also broadened the criteria that defines a workplace death.
families who have lost someone at work, as well as establishing a new committee led by families who know the pain of such a tragic event, to drive further reforms,” she says. “Broadening the definition of a workplace fatality will help better identify and address the true extent of workplace health and
$382M FOR READY-TO-GO JOBS IN NSW’S FIXING LOCAL ROADS PROGRAM
$382 million to be made avalible for ready-to-go projects.
safety issues in Victoria.” make a big difference in people’s everyday lives right across regional NSW,” he said.
Mr. Toole said the NSW Government was also accelerating its funding for the program to get more projects to seal, maintain and repair local roads under way faster.
“It means communities right across the State will see work starting on the local roads in their area as soon as next month.”
He said the first round of the program would see $250 million of funding for 258 projects in 83 Local Government Areas. Applications for round two of the program will open later this year.
Projects are required to be delivered within two years of receiving funding. 3500 jobs are expected to be created.
MAJOR CONTRACTORS BEGIN WORKS ON $481M BRUCE HIGHWAY UPGRADE
Works have begun on stage three of the Cairns Southern Access Corridor project which will see the Bruce Highway upgraded between Edmonton and Gordonvale. This road construction project is the biggest of its kind in Far North Queensland. HSA Group, comprising John Holland Seymour Whyte and AECOM Group, will construct the upgrades.
The 10.5 kilometre upgrade is expected to double capacity on one of the Bruce Highway’s busiest two-lane sections and support 466 jobs. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said this is another example of the Federal Government delivering key infrastructure projects which will support jobs and boost the economy, particularly in regional areas.
“The southern suburbs of Cairns are growing fast and that is why the Australian Government has committed more than $840 million towards upgrading the Cairns Southern Access Corridor from Gordonvale to Cairns CBD,” Mr. McCormack said.
“Not only will this project duplicate the highway, it will also deliver new service roads The Drysdale Bypass in Victoria, the Bellarine Peninsula’s largest road infrastructure project, is now open to traffic. Contractors Decmil built the new bypass which stretches six kilometres from Jetty Road to the north of Whitcombes Road. Trucks make up more than 11 per cent of the 20,000 vehicles that drive through Drysdale each day and it is hoped the bypass will give local roads back to local drivers by diverting those trucks. In addition, tourists are expected to benefit in the busy summer holiday season where an extra 5000 vehicles can move through Drysdale daily. As part of the construction a new pedestrian underpass was built, this provides safer
The upgrade is expected to support 466 jobs.
and partially close several intersections and direct accesses to the existing highway. This will improve traffic flow, increase the speed limit to 100 kilometres per hour and create a safer and more efficient Bruce Highway for the future.”
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the project would also see a number of at-grade level crossings removed, a new overpass south of Maitland Road and a brand new alignment for the highway. He said these upgrades will tackle congestion and create a pipeline of construction and supporting jobs for Cairns. access for students, linking the town centre with the education, arts and sporting precinct on Peninsula Drive. The Barwon Heads Road Duplication is another significant infrastructure project for the region, and this is going through the planning process now. The four-kilometre duplication between Settlement Road and Reserve Road in south-east Geelong includes extra lanes to increase traffic capacity. It also includes the removal of a dangerous level crossing over the Melbourne-Warrnambool railway line at Marshall.
Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said we’ve wasted no time in opening the bypass so locals can benefit from the
“It’s part of a $1.45 billion roads and transport program for the Far North, that includes the jointly funded $104 million Cairns Southern Access Stage 4 – Kate Street to Aumuller Street project and the $164 million Smithfield Bypass.” The contractors have started with early work to remove vegetation, demolish structures in the project corridor and establish a site office. Completion of the project is expected for 2023. The works are jointly funded by the Federal Government ($381.81 million) and the Queensland
CONTRACTOR COMPLETES MAJOR WORKS ON $117M DRYSDALE BYPASS
Government ($92.19 million). safety improvements and travel time savings.
“Investment in south east Geelong’s road infrastructure continues to be our focus, and we’re progressing planning work on the Barwon Heads Duplication to support ongoing development in this growth corridor.”
Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville said this bypass is a real win for locals, it not only delivers my election commitment, but we will also see trucks gone from High Street and safer trips for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
“I am looking forward to seeing the benefits for locals and for motorists who travel to the Bellarine Peninsula, particularly in the busy summer months.”
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THREE CONSORTIA SHORTLISTED FOR $76M MITCHELL FREEWAY SOUTHBOUND UPGRADE
Another section of the Mitchell Freeway is set to be upgraded. Three consortia have been invited to submit detailed proposals to design and construct a third southbound lane between Hodges Drive and Hepburn Avenue. The project is being brought forward as part of the government’s fast-tracked package of works. Construction on the project will include building a third 8.8 kilometre freeway lane adjacent to the rail line. A new concrete barrier will be constructed to improve safety along the railway between Hepburn Avenue and the Reid Highway. Upgrading Hodges Drive to Hepburn Avenue is anticipated to create 530 jobs, both direct and indirect.
Contractors shortlisted for the project include: • H2H comprising WBHO Infrastructure Pty
Ltd and NRW Contracting Pty Ltd; • Highways Construction Pty Ltd; and • Mitchell Southbound JV comprising BMD
Constructions Pty Ltd and Georgiou
Group Pty Ltd
A contract is expected to be awarded in late October, with construction to begin at Four major contractors have been awarded maintenance contracts for a total of 23,000 kilometres of the South Australian Road Maintenance network. The contracts will run for an initial seven years with provisions for a further six years. This extends the State Government’s 20 year partnership with industry to maintain the road network. Contracts have been awarded in four zones: • Adelaide Metropolitan: DM Roads • Regional South: Fulton Hogan • Regional North: DM Roads • Outback: Lendlease Boral Joint Venture
Now around 60 per cent of road maintenance services in the state are outsourced and under the new model, all road maintenance will be delivered in partnership with industry.
Minister for Transport, Infrastructure the end of this year. The contract will require at least 10 per cent Aboriginal employment with at least three per cent of procurement going to Aboriginal business, in line with the Western Australian Aboriginal Procurement Policy.
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said traffic congestion on the Mitchell Freeway was rapidly on the rise as WA came out of COVID and Local Government Stephan Knoll said these new contracts will allow the state to leverage the expertise and efficiency of industry to deliver better and safer roads for South Australian motorists.
“We have 23,000 kilometres of the road network in South Australia and our priority is keeping our roads as safe as possible for motorists,” he said.
Of the 23,000 kilometres of road network in South Australia, 14,000 kilometres are sealed and 9000 kilometres are unsealed. “DM Roads and Fulton Hogan have been awarded contracts to maintain our road network under the former government in 2013 and 2011 respectively,” Mr. Knoll said. “These companies have been maintaining tens of thousands of kilometres of South Australia’s road network over many years
and people return to workplaces.
“It’s another reason to prioritise increasing the capacity of the freeway network so we can meet the growing demand across Perth,” Mr. Tudge said.
“It’s clear to see WA is undergoing construction across the transport network and that includes busting congestion for the growing populations in Perth’s northern suburbs.”
Construction will include building a
MAJOR CONTRACTORS AWARDED SEVEN YEAR SA ROAD MAINTENANCE WORKS
third 8.8 kilometre freeway lane. and have been employing thousands of South Australians over that time.”
Performance indicators will be included in the new contracts to target and monitor use of local small and medium enterprises. The contracts will also require demonstration of achievement of Industry Participation Policy targets and compliance with subcontractor principles. Financial consequences will occur if performance thresholds are not met.
“Through these new contracts we have been able to get a better bargain for taxpayers to drive their dollar further,” Mr. Knoll said.
The contracts are for up to 13 years and having four dedicated areas is expected to allow contractors to focus on providing the best possible outcomes for their area.
SNOWY HYDRO 2.0 GAINS ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL
The largest renewable energy project in Australia, Snowy Hydro 2.0 has been given environmental approval. Civil works for the project will be carried out by Future Generation which is a partnership between Australian engineering and construction firm Clough and tunnelling and hydropower specialists Salini Impregilo. For electrical and mechanical works Voith Hydro have been contracted. They will deliver the latest hydro-generation technology in the new Snowy 2.0 power station. Australian company Leed Engineering and Construction has been awarded the contract for exploratory works, preconstruction activities and roads.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that Commonwealth environmental approval for the project has been granted after a rigorous environmental process.
“This marks the final step in the planning and approvals phase and the beginning of a new wave of jobs and investment for the region, which will guarantee clean, affordable energy and position our country for the future,” Mr. Morrison said. Jane MacMaster will be appointed to the newly-created role of Chief Engineer at Engineers Australia. CEO Dr. Bronwyn Evans said the Chief Engineer will lead Engineers Australia’s engagement and policy discussion with industry, government, academia and other key stakeholders. “The Chief Engineer will play an important part in delivering the organisation’s strategic vision and we are thrilled to have secured someone of Jane’s calibre,” Dr. Evans said. Ms. MacMaster has engineering experience gained in Australia and overseas. She has held senior systems and design engineer roles for BAE Systems Australia for various aerospace and defence programs including a supersonic ship self-defence system project for NATO. Ms. MacMaster has postgraduate
Snowy Hydro will invest nearly $100 million in biodiversity and environmental enhancements.
“Just as the original Snowy Hydro project brought jobs and prosperity to Australia after the Second World War, Snowy 2.0 will help Australia grow its way out of the economic challenges from the coronavirus.”
Mr. Morrison said Snowy 2.0 is already creating a jobs boom, with over 100 local businesses benefiting from the Government’s investment to date, with much more local investment to come. qualifications in International Relations and has worked as a Senior Strategy Advisor for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and as a management consultant in the financial services sector. Recently she was Founder and Director of Ponder Enterprises, where she used her engineering skillset to address complex societal challenges. She also has a long association with Engineers Australia, including volunteer positions on the Accreditation Board and the Mechanical Engineering and Women in Engineering committees. “Jane has a strong professional network that spans the industry, higher education and government sectors and I am confident she will make an immediate impact,” Dr. Evans said. “She will help ensure that Engineers
Over the life of the project Snowy 2.0 will create 4,000 direct jobs, as well as many more indirect jobs as flow-on benefits are realised by local businesses and the broader region.
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the rigorous environmental assessment underlined the importance of the bilateral assessment with NSW.
“Not only has the approval paved the way for critical infrastructure that will help the environment, it has ensured vital funding for protecting the area’s biodiversity,” Ms. Ley said.
“The final Commonwealth review resulted in additional conditions around heritage, public transparency on data used to underpin mitigation strategies and the protection of native fish species.” Snowy Hydro will invest close to $100 million in biodiversity and environmental enhancements as part of the approval.
This will include establishing an offset fund of up to $73.8m through the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to protect threatened species and deliver
long-term conservation outcomes.
Jane MacMaster, Chief Engineer - Engineeers Australia.
Image Credit: Engineers Australia
Australia is well-positioned to provide leadership for the profession in Australia in the crucial areas of infrastructure, energy, technology and climate change.” Ms. MacMaster was selected following a national recruitment process and will begin her role on 15 July 2020.
