Business Charter

Workplace Standards Tasmania's (WST) role and the legislation which it administers. We will also provide appropriate advice and information to assist business and industry to improve performance.

In particular we will do our best to ensure:

• immediate response, through our telephone helpline service, to routine questions;an efficient referral service for more complex questions;
• telephone messages are answered within 24 hours;
• anyone who phones will not be required to call back;
• routine correspondence will be answered within 10 working days;
• receipt of more complex correspondence will be acknowledged and an estimated reply date given;
• disclosure, on receipt of a written request, of any information in our possession provided that the information would not be exempt under Freedom of Information legislation;
• where we make a charge for the provision of information we will do so, as far as practicable, on a non-profit or cost-recovery basis only;
• our organisational chart and telephone directory will be provided to businesses, on request.

Consultation and Meetings

WST is committed to consultation with business, industry and other stakeholders on matters that significantly affect them. WST appreciates the time and other pressures common to both the public and private sectors.

In particular:

• appropriate stakeholders will be consulted in any reviews of legislation;
• our staff will be punctual in attending pre-arranged meetings;
• visitors to the Authority will be attended to without delay;
• our staff will introduce themselves and provide a business card or other appropriate identification;
• interpreter services will be provided if required.

Legislation

The agency will strive to assist government to make legislation understandable and acceptable to the business community, consistent with accuracy and drafting protocols.

In particular:

• we will invite comment on draft legislation whenever possible;
• where legislation is complex the agency will endeavour to provide explanatory leaflets, brochures and guidelines free of charge;
• all explanatory leaflets, brochures and guidelines will include a contact for further information;
• all publications, including forms, will be written in plain English and be clear in their purpose and content.

Complaints about WST

WST is committed to continuous improvement in its services to business and industry. It recognises that complaints offer an opportunity to improve its services. In particular:

• any significant written complaint will be considered by a senior manager, investigated, and a meaningful written response provided to the complainant;
• we will acknowledge receipt of a written complaint and provide the complainant with an estimated reply date;
• we will consider whether complaints are an indicator that our internal procedures should be reviewed.