THE ROAD TO THE 85 DB(A) NOISE FENCE IN QUEENSLAND: VALUES, POLITICS, AND PUBLIC POLICY

For at least 14 years after the publication of minimum permissible exposure limits that would largely eradicate industrial deafness, statute legislation in Queensland remained unchanged and ineffective. Industrial deafness continued to occur. New legislation, introduced in 1989 and amended in 1993, and based on a duty of care responsibility incumbent on all, may remedy this situation. The new legislation is examined and comments are made about the values inherent in the new approach. It is concluded that public policy strategists may increase the likelihood of success of they ensure that the duty of care provisions (together with the general provisions of the Act) are backed up by innovative complementary economic, financial and marketing incentives.