Top SafeWork SA executive Prema Osborne quits as independent review nears completion

A second top executive has quit SafeWork SA, just weeks after its CEO announced he would leave – as a review looms.

Another top executive has quit the state’s safety watchdog just days after chief executive Martyn Campbell announced he was leaving the agency for a lucrative job in the mining sector.

SafeWork SA’s director of workplace education and business services Prema Osborne told staff this week she would also depart the agency next week.

Her resignation comes just weeks before an independent review into the regulator’s operations is set to be completed.

Former chair and executive director of WorkSafe Victoria John Merritt is conducting the review, which is focusing on the “effectiveness of SafeWork SA’s compliance and enforcement functions”.

It is understood Ms Osborne has taken a role in a state government department. She has been employed at SafeWork SA since February 2018.

In an email sent to staff, she said she had received an offer and it was “too good to say no”.

SafeWork SA said her departure was not related to the recent resignation of Mr Campbell or the independent review.

SafeWork SA executive Prema Osborne has resigned from her position. Picture: Linkedin

“She will leave the agency on December 9 to take up another South Australian Government role,” a spokesman said.

SafeWork SA has faced public criticism for its handling of a number of high-profile cases including the infamous 2018 Adelaide Crows pre-season camp and the Royal Adelaide Show incident in which eight-year-old Adelene Leong was killed when she was thrown from a ride in 2014.

Labor promised a “root-and-branch review” of the agency ahead of its March state election victory.

Mr Campbell told The Advertiser in November, he was remaining in his lead role until the findings were handed down.

It comes as SafeWorkSA confirmed the closure of its Berri office in January after it was first flagged at a parliamentary committee in August.

“The decision to close the Berri office was made as a result of budget-saving measures required in the 2022-23 State Budget,” a spokesman said.

“The Berri office handles a significantly lower volume of work than any of SafeWork SA’s other regional offices.

“The two inspectors based at Berri are considering their positions, including options to remain with the agency.”