Displaying 25 - 48 of 111 results.

Police Minister Anne Tolley and Labour Minister Simon Bridges today announced the approval of the Underground Mines Emergency Protocol, developed in response to a recommendation by the Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy. 

The protocol provides high level guidance on managing a major underground mine or tunnel emergency.  It sets out the persons and agencies responsible for responding, their key functions, duties, and roles, and the lines of authority for decision making and communication.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Anne Tolley
  • Police
  • Labour

Cabinet has approved new regulations for mining health and safety, as part of the Government’s response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy.

Labour Minister Simon Bridges says the new regulations will see significant changes to the health and safety regime of New Zealand’s mining industry.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

The Government has stepped up its efforts to improve forestry safety and Labour Minister Simon Bridges is calling on those in the industry to do the same. 

“The Government is committed to implementing the major step change in workplace health and safety that we need to see in New Zealand, which will help bring down fatalities and serious injuries in the forestry sector,” Mr Bridges says. 

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

News of the eighth forestry workplace fatality this year is a tragedy for the worker’s family, his colleagues and the whole industry says Labour Minister Simon Bridges. 

“There’ll be a devastated family in the central North Island who have lost a loved one and I extend my deepest condolences to them,” Mr Bridges says. 

“The number of fatalities in the forestry sector is too high and the safety record is not acceptable - the industry needs to get its safety house in order.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

Labour Minister Simon Bridges today announced the permanent Board of the new workplace health and safety regulator, WorkSafe New Zealand.

All members appointed to the Establishment Board in July will transfer to the permanent Board when WorkSafe starts operations on 16 December, that is: Professor Gregor Coster as chair, Paula Rose, Don Stock, Patrick Strange and Ross Wilson.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

Mr Speaker, I move that the WorkSafe New Zealand Bill, the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Bill (No 3), and the Mines Rescue Bill be now read a third time.

It gives me great satisfaction to support these Bills at third reading.

Following the release of the report of the Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy in 2012, this Government committed to implementing the Royal Commission’s 16 recommendations by the end of 2013.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Climate Change Issues
  • Labour

Labour Minister Simon Bridges welcomed the passage of the Health and Safety (Pike River Implementation) Bill through Parliament. 

“Today marks the passing of the last major milestone in our work to address the 16 recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy,” Mr Bridges says. 

“The Bill creates the WorkSafe New Zealand Act, the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Act and a new Mines Rescue Act. 

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

Labour Minister Simon Bridges has today given an update on the implementation of Working Safer, the Government’s health and safety reform package.

The reform package announced in August 2013 will be reflected in the Health and Safety Reform Bill which is expected to be introduced to Parliament by the end of the year.

A draft of provisions released today covers the duties of workplace participants and provisions relating to worker participation systems that will be in the Bill.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

Specialist guidance for mine, quarry and tunnel managers to help them build a strong health and safety culture was released today by the Minister of Labour, Hon Simon Bridges.

“The guidance responds to one of the recommendations of the Pike River Royal Commission. In addition, the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety noted that leadership is vital to creating a workplace culture in which health and safety comes first,” Mr Bridges says.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

Labour Minister Simon Bridges has announced the appointment of Rosemary Monaghan as interim Chief of the Employment Relations Authority.

Ms Monaghan was appointed to the Authority in October 2000 following six years as a mediator and adjudicator on the Employment Tribunal. She is an experienced Barrister, having practised in Chambers and in several legal roles.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

The Government will fund nearly $11 million over four years for a dedicated health and safety programme for the Canterbury rebuild.

“This programme will actively support safety in the construction sector and focus on harm reduction across the rebuild,” says Labour Minister Simon Bridges.

“The funding is part of the Government’s Working Safer package, announced yesterday, which represents a major step towards reducing New Zealand’s workplace injury and death toll by 25 percent by 2020.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

The most significant reform of New Zealand’s workplace health and safety system in 20 years has been announced today by Labour Minister Simon Bridges.

“The Working Safer package represents a major step change in New Zealand’s approach to meet our target of reducing the workplace injury and death toll by 25 percent by 2020,” says Mr Bridges.

“The reforms recalibrate our approach so we are working smarter, targeting risk and working together to improve performance in workplace health and safety.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

Labour Minister Simon Bridges today announced the members of the Establishment Board of the planned new Crown agent, WorkSafe New Zealand.

“This Board has the crucial job of overseeing the establishment of WorkSafe New Zealand for its December start-up. The new agency will be focussed on addressing New Zealand’s workplace fatality and serious injury rates,” says Mr Bridges.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

Government Ministers have today signed the Canterbury Rebuild Safety Charter to help keep workers on the rebuild safe.

The Safety Charter, developed by the Canterbury Rebuild Senior Leaders’ Group, has been signed and endorsed by 50 construction, insurance, central and local government leaders.

“Rebuilding Canterbury on time, on budget and safely is a priority for the Government. The Safety Charter is a unique document, bringing industry and government together to make this happen,” says Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Judith Collins
  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Labour
  • ACC
  • Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

I move that the Health and Safety (Pike River Implementation) Bill be now read a first time.

I nominate the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee to consider the Bill and, at the appropriate time, I intend to move that the Bill be reported to the House by 30 October 2013.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

Legislation to establish a new workplace health and safety agency, WorkSafe New Zealand, and to support health and safety regulations for mining has unanimously passed its first reading in Parliament.

Labour Minister Simon Bridges says the Health and Safety (Pike River Implementation) Bill is an important part of the Government’s commitment to the Pike River families to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy by the end of this year.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

Tena koutou, Tena koutou katoa (Greetings to you, greetings to you all).

Mr President, fellow delegates. I’m very pleased to be able to address this plenary session on behalf of the New Zealand Government.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

Employment relations and workplace health and safety are key areas of discussion for Labour Minister Simon Bridges when he attends the International Labour Conference in Geneva next week.

The Minister will address a plenary session on this year’s theme of ‘Building a Future with Decent Work’, meet with political counterparts and senior ILO officials and attend a meeting of Asia Pacific Labour Ministers.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

Legislation to ensure more fairness, flexibility and clarity in employment law passed its first reading in Parliament.

The Employment Relations Amendment Bill proposes a package of measures to improve workplace arrangements in order to lift productivity and help create jobs.  

Labour Minister Simon Bridges told Parliament the Government wants to ensure that employers have the freedom to compete and expand, while key protections for employees are maintained.

The key features of the Bill are:

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

Parental leave payments will increase from 1 July in line with changes in the average weekly wage, Labour Minister Simon Bridges announced today.

The maximum amount available to eligible employees and the self-employed will increase from $475.16 to $488.17 gross a week.

The minimum parental leave payment for self-employed will also increase, from $135.00 to $137.50 a week gross.

“The increase to parental leave payments matches the 2.7 percent increase in the average weekly wage over the past year,” Mr Bridges says.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

I want to thank you all for your commitment to improving workplace health and safety in New Zealand. 

You are a vital link in the chain of organisational and personal responsibility for health and safety that brings us together this morning. And I will return to this theme shortly.

We are at a unique point in the continuing evolution of our health and safety system in this country.  A watershed, if you like.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

Labour Minister Simon Bridges has announced new regulations that will raise the standard for workplace safety in petroleum exploration and extraction.

The Health and Safety in Employment (Petroleum Exploration and Extraction) Regulations 2013 replace the 1999 regulations and come into effect on 30 June.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour

The Government has further progressed the Pike River Implementation Plan with the release of a discussion document on a new regulatory regime for the mining sector.

Labour and Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges says the discussion document proposes significant changes to health and safety regulation in New Zealand’s mining industry.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Energy and Resources
  • Labour

Energy and Resources and Labour Minister Simon Bridges leaves for Japan today where he will address the annual Nikkei Forum and meet with business and political leaders.

Mr Bridges has been invited to speak at the Nikkei conference in Tokyo on the theme “Exploring New Partnerships between Asia and the World.”

“Asia is an important and growing export and investment partner for New Zealand and I welcome this opportunity to meet ASEAN leaders and build on our relationships in the region,” he says.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Energy and Resources
  • Labour