Asbestos Removal — Complaints to Worksafe
721. Hon ALISON XAMON to the Minister for Commerce:
I refer to the answer to my question on notice 4255 regarding WorkSafe WA’s response to complaints made about the process of chrysotile asbestos removal at 8a Carbon Court, Osborne Park.
(1) Did WorkSafe receive further complaints about this issue on 29 March, 4 April, 12 April, 6 May, 7 May, 13 May and 16 August?
(2) If yes to (1), why were these dates not included in the original answer?
(3) If no to (1), can the minister explain why these contacts with the complainant were not recorded?
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question.
(1) Correspondence containing further information in relation to the original complaint was submitted on the listed dates.
(2) The correspondence was addressed to the director undertaking the investigation and placed on a different file. As the director was away at the time the previous answer was provided, the file was not identified. The correspondence of 16 August 2011 was received after the necessary advice was provided in relation to the parliamentary question. At the time of receipt, the director noted the correspondence and considered it to be the provision of additional information to the original complaint rather than the raising of a new complaint. It is acknowledged that, in this instance, the omission of identification of the additional correspondence was an administrative error, and procedures to prevent a similar occurrence will be developed.
(3) Not applicable.