New South Wales has hailed the passage of the nation’s strongest industrial manslaughter laws, which are aimed at preventing deaths at work, and improving workplace safety and accountability.
The new legislation passed by the NSW Parliament imposes civil penalties of up to $20 million for companies, and jail terms of up to 25 years for senior officers.
The laws are designed to address the issue of workplace deaths head-on, providing a strong deterrent against unsafe practices and fostering a culture of responsibility and care within workplaces.
Mark Morey, Secretary of Unions NSW, lauded the passage of these laws, stating that they “will save lives.”
“When someone dies at work, their loved ones carry the trauma and loss forever,” Mr Morey said.
“These laws will give everyone greater reason to pause and consider whether a workplace is as sage as it should be.”
Nurses and midwives contributed to the campaign to see these laws introduced, including Clinical Nurse Specialist Jamie Roberts, who spoke at a rally in support of the legislation.
“We must be able to get home from our shifts. We must protect workers from injury and death,” Ms Roberts said.
The introduction of these laws comes in response to ongoing concerns about workplace safety. Statistics from Safe Work Australia highlight the sobering reality: in 2022, 51 workers died in NSW, the highest nationally.