Local volunteer groups to be hit by harsh new government regulations
25-January-2012
Ken O' Dowd -
Volunteers in local communities will be at risk of large personal fines and possible jail terms, under a Gillard Government plan to make volunteers subject to the same OH&S obligations as paid workers says Ken O’Dowd Federal Member for Flynn.
Under the Gillard Government’s new national OH&S regime, volunteers will be considered in the same way as workers when it comes to OH&S matters and will be personally liable for fines of up to $300,000 and prison sentences of up to five years if they don’t comply with Labor’s new laws.
“Labor’s national OH&S regime will badly damage the voluntary sector”, said Ken O’Dowd.
“Local sports clubs, scout groups, surf lifesaving clubs and other community organisations will now be burdened by strict regulations accompanied by harsh punishments for non-compliance.”
“The law will demand exactly the same standards from the organisers and cooks of local sausage sizzles and church lamington stalls as it will from nationwide restaurant chains.”
“I don’t want to see a ‘meals on wheels’ worker, a captain of a life saving club, or a local cricket coach subjected to a $300,000 fine, or possibly a prison term for not complying with Labor’s new regulations.”
“Volunteer groups like soccer clubs, meals on wheels, the scouts and guides, life savers, and the events they run like fetes, gala days and community events are the glue that binds together communities – and Julia Gillard wants to make them subject to officious inspectors.”
Mr O’Dowd said, “We should be making volunteering easier not harder. It seems ironic that last year we celebrated the ‘Year of the Volunteer’ and this year the Gillard government are making it difficult for people to volunteer. With this year being the ‘Year of the Farmer’ I fear for them in 2013”
Mr O’Dowd said,” I have already been contacted by a number of concerned volunteers. They have indicated that if compliance is too difficult they would be withdrawing their services.”
“Volunteers should not face the threat of $300,000 fines simply because they wanted to help their community.”
Mr O’Dowd said, “The ‘mud-army’ of Queensland was the most inspiring act of 2011 and we should not be discouraging volunteers for lending a hand to making our communities better.”
“The Gillard Government must recognise that it has gone too-far and fix the problem it has created.”
“Given our concerns of the possible impacts on community groups and volunteers, the Coalition is calling on the Federal Government to delay its implementation of this new regime for 12 months so that the true impacts on voluntary organisations can be assessed.”
“The Coalition, through its Red Tape Reduction Taskforce, will also examine the new laws and identify ways that we can lesson the regulatory burden that will exist on community groups and volunteers.”