Wednesday, 21 September 2022

 Ms BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:42): My question is to the Minister for Small Business. In January this year Colli’s Hair Design had two authorised officers visit their Moe salon without identifying themselves or requesting to see the business’s COVID-safe plan. At the end of the inspection the owner, Mr Colli, asked the officers if there was anything that he could do to improve on, and in effect the officers replied, ‘No, everything is just fine. Keep doing what you’re doing’. To Mr Colli’s absolute horror, a fine rocked up in the mail of $13 631 shortly after the visit of the COVID officers. Minister, how is it fair that their small business was compliant, acted according to the coronavirus guidelines, which state that under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 a COVID-safe plan ‘must be kept’ on the premises and ‘must be available for inspection on request by WorkSafe or other authorised officers’.

 Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:43): I thank Ms Bath for her question on behalf of this business. I am familiar with the matter that Ms Bath raises, in the same way that Ms Bath would be familiar with the minister with responsibility for the authorised officers COVID enforcement and the fines regime that she has referred to being the Minister for Police. I have sought a review of this matter, and I would perhaps take on notice if I can the rest of the question so that I can, when I have the outcome of that requested review, provide Ms Bath with that information as well as the industry organisation that is advocating on behalf of this business to me directly.

 Ms BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:44): I thank the minister for her response. It has been very distressing for this small business that has been forced to shut down, forced to operate under COVID-safe practices and did so most willingly and then to have this on their shoulders. It has been very distressing, so I appreciate your following this up and I ask you to ensure that this fine is overturned.

 Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:45): If I could just respond, it is not within my power to ensure that this fine is overturned. I think Ms Bath would appreciate that, and I understand from the industry advocate that I have been dealing with directly on this matter that the business in question is aware of that as well in terms of roles and responsibilities. But in response to the comments that Ms Bath made along with her supplementary question, I join Ms Bath in thanking this business for their efforts. It is an industry that has been quite significantly impacted, along with many others. Insofar as I understand these circumstances, they have willingly done their part to keep the community safe, and I thank them for that.