8 July 2020 / COVID-19

PM & Aged Care Minister Address

The Prime Minister just spoke to the media at a Press Conference, alongside the Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck.

  • This is a global pandemic and there are no guarantees in a global pandemic. Dealing with virus is a national coordinated effort, and this time is particularly hard on Melbourne
  • Our success depends on the success of each state, and Victoria is getting support it needs from Govt / states
  • Aged care – one of the most significant areas of concern. Additional 6100 in-home aged care places have been added, bringing it up to an additional 50,000 and will be tabled further in Budget in Oct.
  • Advice regarding travel – if in VIC / NSW, don’t travel around the state, particularly those in border communities
  • There will be further phase of financial support after September based on need and will include VIC, but support will continue nationally based on need – it won’t be location based. PM and Treasurer have been preparing next phase with this in mind.
  • International arrivals load will be reduced across Australia to reduce burdens on states given VIC. More on this in Nat Cab on Friday.
  • All other states in very strong position re handling the virus. Reopening to go ahead as planned.
  • Consideration around people paying for quarantine as opposed to state-paid. This is on each state and territory and this would be supported by Commonwealth, people have had a lot of opportunities to return.
  • Masks – there is constant medical advice provided, and the Govt will continue to follow the advice.
  • PM hopes that the lockdown in Greater Melbourne doesn’t go on for 6 weeks, but he supports Victoria – not his job to second guess Premiers, it’s to support them as PM
  • The measures we have taken as a country need to continue no matter what age/job/income you have, it’s about supporting other Australians which we all have a responsibility to do. How we respond is what we have control over, we don’t have control over the virus. We thank Melbournians for their response to this despite how heartbreaking and frustrating it is, especially as things just started reopening.
  • National Cabinet will meet again this Friday.

Other Recent Activities

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9 April / Quality Alert
Prohibition on the Use of Engineered Stone

Engineered stone ban effective 1 July 2024

ALL engineered stone, regardless of the silica content percentage, is banned.

Alternative products must be considered and implemented on all projects.

In October last year Hutchies noted that the industry was shifting away from engineered stone due to the risks of respirable crystalline silica, which can cause silicosis and other silica related diseases.

On this basis, Hutchies proactively took a position to ban all engineered stone on our projects, regardless of silica content percentages, from 1 July 2024.

In December last year, we then had confirmation that following an Industrial Relations Ministers meeting, State and Commonwealth Leaders had agreed to ban engineered stone products.

Some at Hutchies have noted that the State and Federal communications concerning the ban have included transition periods as well as exemptions for some engineered stone with low (under 1%) silica content.

For clarity, there has been no change to Hutchies' position following these communications – Hutchies will not be using engineered stone that contains any percentage of silica on our projects from 1 July 2024.

Actions

To mitigate the impact of potential delays and variations, the best approach is to inform clients of the pending ban and to propose and seek approval for an alternative product.

Similarly, ensure all future estimates have the stone specification qualified and priced accordingly.

Refer to Hutchies' Stone Product & Suitability for Use List on the Document Library.

More information

If you need additional support, please contact:

Design — Michael Lawlor / Ogi Latinovic
Work Health & Safety — Jimmy Andersen
Industrial Relations — Ben Young
Other — Russell Fryer

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3 - 20 April / General
NOW OPEN / 2024 Hutchies Training Awards Nominations

Calling all nominations for stand out apprentices and cadets across Hutchies.

Help us by nominating an apprentice or cadet that you think is a true representation of Hutchies' way.

We also want to celebrate other significant training achievements by anyone else across company over the last 12 months.

Make your vote by COB 12 April 2024 (extended to Friday 18 April!)

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4 March / Meetings
All Company Update / March 2024

Thanks for participating in Hutchies' All Company Update.

A copy of the presentation slides is available to download below.

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