Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Definition of Employee – G20 Volunteers) Notice 2014

Overview

The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Definition of Employee – G20 Volunteers) Notice 2014 was introduced to address a specific need arising from the 2014 Group of Twenty Leaders' Summit in Brisbane. Enacted under the authority of the Minister for Employment, this notice extends the coverage of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 to include volunteers participating in the G20 Leaders' Summit. This legislative instrument ensures that the approximately 700 volunteers who assist in the preparation and running of the summit are provided with the same workers' compensation and rehabilitation protections as employees of the Commonwealth. The policy objective is to ensure that these volunteers, who perform acts under the direction of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, are covered by the Act when they engage in event preparations, facilitate the movement of G20 delegates, or provide general assistance to delegates, media, and guests. This declaration aligns with human rights obligations, particularly the right to social security as outlined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Scope and Application

The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Definition of Employee – G20 Volunteers) Notice 2014 extends the application of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 to include volunteers who assist in the preparation and running of the 2014 Group of Twenty Leaders’ Summit in Brisbane, commonly referred to as the G20 Leaders’ Summit 2014. This notice specifically declares that volunteers who engage in activities directed by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s G20 Taskforce are considered employees under the Act. These activities include event preparations, facilitating the movement of G20 delegates, and providing general assistance to delegates, media, and guests of the G20 Leaders’ Summit 2014. By declaring these volunteers as employees, the Act ensures they are covered by the Commonwealth workers’ compensation and rehabilitation scheme from the date this notice commences until 21 November 2014. This extension of coverage aligns with the intent of the Act, which provides support to employees injured at work, thereby positively engaging the right to social security as outlined in Article 9 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Key Provisions

The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Definition of Employee – G20 Volunteers) Notice 2014 (Notice) is a legislative instrument that amends the definition of 'employee' in the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (Act) (subsection 5(6)). Under this Notice, volunteers participating in the 2014 Group of Twenty Leaders' Summit in Brisbane (G20 Leaders' Summit 2014) are considered employees for the purposes of the Act. This declaration ensures that these volunteers, who are assisting in the preparation and running of activities related to the G20 Leaders' Summit 2014, are covered by the Act in the same manner as Commonwealth employees from the date this Notice commences until 21 November 2014. The volunteers in question perform acts under the direction of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's G20 Taskforce, such as event preparations, facilitating the movement of G20 delegates, or providing general assistance to delegates, media, and guests of the Summit. The obligations imposed by this Notice on the parties it governs are primarily centred on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's G20 Taskforce. The Department is responsible for ensuring that the volunteers working under its direction are aware of the provisions of the Act and that they are afforded the same protections and benefits as any Commonwealth employee. This includes providing the necessary information and support to volunteers regarding their rights and entitlements under the Act, as well as ensuring that any injuries or incidents occurring during the course of their volunteer work are reported and managed in accordance with the Act. Additionally, the Notice imposes a responsibility on the volunteers themselves to adhere to the guidelines, procedures, and requirements established by the Department and the Commonwealth in relation to their volunteer work at the G20 Leaders' Summit 2014. Failure to comply with the requirements of the Act, as amended by this Notice, may result in various consequences for the parties involved. For instance, if a volunteer is injured while performing their duties and the incident is not reported in accordance with the Act, they may be unable to claim workers' compensation for their injuries. Similarly, if the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's G20 Taskforce fails to ensure that the volunteers are aware of their rights and obligations under the Act, they may be held liable for any breaches of the Act by the volunteers. In terms of civil or criminal consequences, the Act itself does not outline specific penalties for breaches of its provisions. However, breaches of other Commonwealth legislation, such as the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, may carry civil penalties of up to $1.9 million for corporations and $190,000 for individuals, or criminal penalties of up to six months imprisonment for individuals and $5.5 million for corporations.