Tom Phillips appointed Chair of Safe Work Australia Council

The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Julia Gillard, has announced the appointment of Tom Phillips AM as the Chair of the Safe Work Australia Council.

Following the recent Workplace Relations Ministers Council (WRMC) agreement on recommendations for model OHS legislation, this represents a further step in the government’s reform agenda for a seamless national economy.

In April, the WRMC agreed to establish the Safe Work Australia Council to drive these reforms and harmonise OHS legislation through the Intergovernmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform in Occupational Health and Safety.

The Safe Work Australia Council is an inclusive, tripartite body that comprises 15 members, including an independent chair, nine members representing the Commonwealth and each state and territory, two representing the interests of workers, two representing the interests of employers and the CEO.

Phillips has considerable experience in OHS through his work as a presiding member of the SafeWork SA Advisory Committee, which advises on OHS standards, policy and legislative matters and promotes OHS education and training.

With over 30 years' experience as a leader in Australian business, Phillips’ most recent position was CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Australia.

Phillips holds board member positions with several not-for-profit organisations and private companies including WorkCover Corporation of South Australia and the Development Council for the Salvation Army (SA). He has previously held a board member position with the South Australian Training and Skills Commission and Australia Post. In December 2002, he was named South Australia’s Businessman of the Year.

The Safe Work Australia Council will play a pivotal role in realising the government’s commitment to work together with state and territory governments, employers and employees to achieve the harmonisation of OHS laws.