 Ladies and gentlemen, as you know it is National Safe Work Month. The impact of poor work health and safety is felt by many thousands of Australians every year. On average, 120,000 Australians are seriously injured at work each year and tragically 240 die as a result of work-related injuries. That is why National Safe Work Month is so important for every Australian. During October, as we reflect on these figures and the people they represent, I hope you can take the time to raise awareness and encourage discussion about safety at work so that collectively we can reduce work-related death, injury and disease. The most recent estimate of the total economic cost of work-related injuries and illnesses to Australia's economy is a staggering $61.8 billion. A healthy and safe working environment is vital to achieving productive and functional workplaces which are integral to Australia's productivity and economic performance. For over a decade, we have focused our attention on health and safety throughout the month of October. Encouragingly, Australia has made great advances in many aspects of work health and safety. Most importantly, the number of Australians killed at work each year has been steadily declining. Last year, there were 195 worker deaths, a significant reduction from the 284 worker deaths recorded 10 years ago. However, 195 is still far too many. One death is one too many and it is distressing to stop and think that connected with each and every one of these deaths is somebody's loved one and lives are changed forever. Every business in Australia, no matter their size or industry, needs a strong commitment to the principles and practices of work, health and safety. Now is the time to ensure safety is at the top of your priority list and to discuss with your colleagues practical ways to keep everyone safe at work. We must all remain vigilant if we want to continue to see a reduction in workplace incidents across Australia. October is the perfect time for you to take advantage of a wide range of health and safety resources available. The Safe Work Australia website is a great place to start as it contains information about National Safe Work Month and a range of resources to help you raise your awareness in your own workplace. Here you'll also find the virtual seminar series which offers dozens of free videos showcasing the latest thinking, innovation, research and developments in work health and safety. The work health and safety regulators in each state and territory also offer a variety of ways for you to get involved from workshops to seminars, printed materials and webinars. I urge you all to get involved in National Safe Work Month and do everything you can to ensure your workplace is as safe and healthy as possible.