LNP Queensland

Labor’s subsidised roof insulation scheme should be halted until every roof installer was properly trained, the State Opposition said.

LNP industrial relations spokesman Lawrence Springborg said last week’s electrocution death of an insulation installer at Millaa Millaa, the third in Queensland, demanded the program be suspended, at the very least for foil insulation.

""Three deaths are three too many," Mr Springborg said.

"Common sense should have ensured that every installer was properly trained in workplace safety. Sadly that hasn’t happened and installers have died.

"In its mad rush to go green and sign-up homeowners for subsidised insulation, Labor has forgotten basic common sense training.

"The program should be halted until there’s an assurance that every installer has been properly trained in workplace safety," Mr Springborg said.

He said Queensland workplaces were already recognised as the most dangerous and over-regulated in the nation - confirmed by the Productivity Commission’s draft report - Performance Benchmarking of Australian Business Regulation: Occupational Health & Safety*’

"Queensland workplaces are the most dangerous …they have the highest death rate and seriously high injury rates. Bligh Government over-regulation has done nothing to reduce deaths and serious workplace injuries.

• Qld workplace deaths in 2007/08 were 79, or 4.4 deaths per 100,000 employed - compared with the national average of 2.4 per 100,000.

• Serious injuries in Queensland were 18.2 per 1000 employees - compared with the national average of 13.5 per 1000.

"Bligh Labor generates heaps of spin and red tape, but seems more interested in revenue from fines than injury prevention …for example infringement notices provide no instruction or guidance on how to improve the practice that resulted in the notice."

"Queensland workers deserve better," Mr Springborg said.