Media release – Madeleine Ogilvie, Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs, 19 June 2024
Labor misses the mark on industrial manslaughter
Labor’s industrial manslaughter bill misses the mark.
Minister for Small Business and Workplace Relations, Madeleine Ogilvie, said Dean Winter must carry out more than token consultation on a bill which risks imposing more unnecessary regulation on Tasmanian businesses and industry.
“The Tasmanian Government is strongly committed to ensure that workers, no matter their workplace, should be safe and feel safe,” said Minister Ogilvie.
“However, consultation on whether this legislation is necessary and fit for purpose is absolutely critical and must be properly approached before the Parliament is asked to consider the Bill.
“With multiple Bills on the table, it would have been prudent to allow a Committee to analyse the Bills to ensure they are appropriately adapted to the law in Tasmania.
“Labor’s copy and paste approach to this legislation risks creating more unnecessary regulation on businesses.
“Manslaughter is an offence already provided for in the Criminal Code – an offence which can be charged in cases involving industrial deaths.
“While the government continues to work through this matter in a prudent way to provide a sound basis for next steps, Labor’s pursuit appears to be about solely aligning with other Labor states and territories – not for worker safety.
“The Tasmanian Government’s 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future backs our business and industries so they have the confidence to grow, invest and create jobs.
“We will continue to create safer workplaces through proactive measures, open communication, and a commitment to continuous improvement.”
Media release – David O’Byrne MP, Independent for Franklin, 19 June 2024
Historic moment as Industrial Manslaughter Bill passes
The passing of the industrial manslaughter Bill through the House of Assembly this afternoon is a historic moment for Tasmanian workers.
The loved ones of those tragically killed at work have fought so hard for this reform, for far too long. I want to acknowledge their ongoing advocacy, and the longstanding advocacy of the broader union movement on this important issue.
Workers deserve to return home from work alive. Negligent behaviour by an organisation or person in control of a workplace that causes a death is completely unacceptable and deserves criminal punishment, just as it is punished in other States and Territories.
Whilst the Bill Labor introduced to the House last Thursday and debated today has some differences to the industrial manslaughter bill I introduced into Parliament last month, it shares the same common objective – to prevent workers from being killed at work.
I commend Labor for successfully bringing this bill through the House, and I ask that they consider some elements of the bill I have drafted that improve the bill and accommodate their inclusion in the Upper House. I look forward to debate on this critically important piece of legislation continuing through the Upper House and becoming law as soon as possible.
Media release – Dean Winter MP, Labor Leader, 19 June 2024
Shadow Minister for Jobs, Workplace Relations and Safety
Industrial manslaughter bill passes House of Assembly
Labor is pleased and proud that Tasmania has joined the rest of the country on the path to passing industrial manslaughter reform, with the safe passage of our bill through the House of Assembly today.
Tasmanian Labor stands for safe, secure and well-paid jobs, and this is a win for workers.
This law will increase protections for Tasmanian workers while they are on the job, helping to make sure that every Tasmanian worker can come home safe after a day’s work.
It also sends a clear message that workplace safety is a critically important issue, and appropriate safety protocols must be implemented and followed to prevent any deaths in the workplace.
While the vast majority of employers take their responsibility to protect workers very seriously, unfortunately we have seen too many deaths in the workplace over the last 10 years – the bill passed today will start to change that.
Tasmanian Labor has consulted widely with the union movement and throughout the business community in developing this bill, we would like to thank and acknowledge stakeholders for their contributions which have informed our bill.
It is disappointing that Jeremy Rockliff and the Tasmanian Liberals continued their opposition to the Bill. They have again demonstrated their contempt for working people.
Media release – Helen Burnet MP, Greens Workplace Relations spokesperson, 19 June 2024
Greens Welcome Passage of Industrial Manslaughter Laws Through HOA
The Greens welcome the passage of industrial manslaughter laws through the House of Assembly.
Calls for industrial manslaughter to become an offence have been made for many years. Unfortunately, the Liberals have dragged their feet on making this important reform, and left Tasmania lagging the nation.
Industrial manslaughter laws are such an important measure to help keep people safe at work. On behalf of the Greens, I thank the Labor party for moving this bill. I also acknowledge the work of Member for Franklin David O’Byrne in this space, and recognise the support of other members for this change.
Of course, we wouldn’t be on the cusp of this reform becoming law if it wasn’t for a powerful long-term campaign from the union movement, and the courageous advocacy of families who have so tragically lost loved ones through deaths at work. Thank you to everyone who has worked so tirelessly to achieve change.
The bill will now go to the Legislative Council, where we hope it will receive swift and strong support.
Media release – Unions Tasmania, 19 June 2024
A massive win for workers as industrial manslaughter legislation passes the House of Assembly
Unions Tasmania has been a champion of industrial manslaughter legislation for Tasmania for many years. As all other jurisdictions across the country moved to legislate over recent years, Tasmanian workers were being left behind by the Liberal Government’s refusal to act on this important safety reform; but the union movement never gave up.
We welcome the Bill that today passed the House of Assembly put forward by Tasmanian Labor and supported by the Greens, David O’Byrne, and Kristy Johnston.
We were disappointed that the Government chose not to vote for the legislation today.
“Industrial manslaughter in Tasmania is long overdue,” said Unions Tasmania Secretary, Jessica Munday. “Tasmanian workers deserve the same safety protections as workers on the mainland and they are now well on their way to having that.”
In the decade to 2022, Tasmania has seen 85 work related fatalities and around 7,500 workers compensation claims from injured workers each year. When workers die on the job, there is little in practice to deter employers from shirking safety. Industrial manslaughter laws will help change that.
“Industrial manslaughter laws are an important piece of improving workplace safety in Tasmania. We hope they act as a deterrent for employers who put profit before people and don’t invest in workplace health and safety. Now, if the worst happens and a worker loses their life on the job through the negligence or recklessness of the employer, there will be sufficiently serious penalties of imprisonment and fines that may provide some measure of justice for families left behind,” said Ms Munday.
Unions Tasmania will now work with Legislative Council members to ensure the laws become a reality as soon as possible.
