Darien FENTON

Health and Safety Spokesperson

13 August  2013  MEDIA STATEMENT

Government blows $8.63 million on MBIE health and safety fiasco

National has spent $8.63 million in the last year on its botched restructure of the country's Health and Safety Inspectorate, leaving a dangerously under-resourced front line in its wake, says Darien Fenton, Labour's Health and Safety spokesperson.

“The $8.63 million ‘Lifting Our Game’ makeover, includes the cost of 46 different consultants, 7 of whom received more than $200,000, 16 who received between $100,000 and $200,000 and 23 who were paid up to $100,000.

"Despite this cost, MBIE has failed to reach its goal of having 158 warranted inspectors by 1 July. It currently has fewer than 100, the lowest the health and safety inspectorate has had for a long time.

"Laying off experienced inspectors – who are now being approached to return to work – has cost $1.24 million in redundancy payments.

"At a time when health and safety concerns are at an all-time high, with calls for urgent action in dangerous industries such as forestry, Simon Bridges has left Kiwi workers even more vulnerable.

"Meanwhile much needed health and safety reforms won't be in place until December next year.

“Inspection targets for the 2013/14 financial year are also well behind.

"There's no-one to blame for this but the Minister in charge, Mr Bridges. He needs to accept responsibility for the fiasco.” 

ENDS

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