19/03/2008

News Item

Detectives conduct inquiries into workplace death - Wetherill Park

CHEMICALS and plastics need to be regulated under uniform laws across the nation, a draft productivity commission report says.

The draft has found the laws regulating chemicals and plastics, including some which are potentially dangerous, are often tacked onto existing laws and are different from state to state.

Current laws worked well in managing risks to health and safety but "are less effective in managing risks to the environment and national security", the report said.

Commission chairman Mike Woods said there was now too much red tape around the handling of chemicals and plastics.

"Governments choose to regulate chemicals in different ways yet the hazards and risks they pose vary little across the country," Mr Woods said.

"Regulating to protect people and the environment from the risks posed by chemicals and plastics has resulted in unnecessary complexity under our federal system.

"Developing uniform regulatory standards and streamlining responsibilities would have significant benefits," Mr Woods said.

The productivity commission is the Federal Government's chief advisory on microeconomic matters.

Reaction to the draft report is encouraged before the final report's release in July 2008.

source: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23400802-29277,00.html