Email message received from MBIE 26/6/2013
Dear stakeholders
The Health and Safety (Pike River Implementation) Bill was introduced to Parliament this week, and is available on the Parliament website at Health-and-Safety-Pike-River-Implementation-Bill
The Bill contains the proposed legislative changes needed to implement the Government’s response to the Royal Commission’s recommendations. It has three parts:
- Part 1 Establishes WorkSafe New Zealand, the new health and safety regulator which will be in place by December
- Part 2 makes amendments to the Health and Safety in Employment Act to implement the Royal Commission’s recommendations on worker participation and to pave the way for the new mining regulations
- Part 3 contains a new Mines Rescue Act which will replace the Mines Rescue Trust 1992
The Bill is expected to be referred to the Transport and Industrial Relations parliamentary select committee later this week for consideration and public submissions. We will update you when we have further information concerning the select committee process and timetable.
Please note that the public consultation process that is underway at the moment on the proposals in the Safe Mines: Safe Workers discussion document (implementing recommendations of the royal commission on the pike river coal mine tragedy) is principally about the matters to be addressed in the proposed new mining regulations, not the matters in the Bill.
There are two exceptions to this: the proposals in the discussion document concerning worker participation, and the Mines Rescue Service are addressed in the Bill. As previously mentioned, submissions on these issues as part of the public consultation process will be taken into account when the Ministry advises the select committee on any changes to the Bill. You can also make submissions directly to the select committee on the matters addressed in the Bill.
It would be appreciated if you could pass this message to others in your networks who may be interested in the Bill.
Pike River Implementation Team
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment