The Communications, Electrical & Plumbing Union (CEPU) called for national corporate manslaughter laws at yesterday Senate Inquiry held in Hobart. CEPU State Secretary Michael Anderson said yesterday’s Senate Inquiry into the Prevention, investigation and prosecution of workplace fatalities was an important opportunity for Federal Politicians to hear about Tasmania’s shocking workplace safety statistics. “According to records kept by Safe Work Australia, Tasmania has the 2nd highest fatality rate in the country behind the NT and nearly double the 3rd highest states of Qld & WA” Mr Anderson said “Despite having the 2nd lowest population of any jurisdiction Tasmania has the highest rates of fatalities in Agriculture, forestry and fishing, the highest fatality rates in the public sector, the 3rd highest rates in mining and equal 2nd highest in the Admin sector.”
The CEPU also pointed to the significant economic cost of workplace fatalities.
“Notwithstanding the cost to the Tasmanian community through grief and loss of loved ones, economically, SWA data shows us that Tasmania fatalities has the highest economic cost as compared to gross domestic product and nearly double the Australian average.”
“Regrettably the State Liberal Government response to this atrocious record was to slash the budget for the regulator by $6 million dollars in 2013 over the forward estimates.”
The Unions submission outlined the experience of workers around the country was that the effectiveness of Australia’s Safety Regulators is limited.
“One of the root causes in our view is the misapplication of the term “self-regulation” which has been bastardised for the convenience of employers at the expense of workers. “
“The move from prescriptive regulatory approaches from the 1970’s onwards was never intended to create an environment where employers literally “self” regulate. “
“How this has been re-interpreted, means employers get to decide if and how they identify and control hazards in workplaces and workers are mostly excluded from the process, while Regulators take a hands-off approach.”
The Union is calling for a package of reforms to effectively prevent, investigate and prosecute industrial deaths.
 A number of key amendments to the WHS model laws and a review of WHS regulator practices: with a focus on establishing a nationally consistent approach to enforcement and prosecutions;
 Reforms are needed to tackle corporate phoenixing and insecure work;
 Government licensing and procurement consequences are needed in relation to repeat WHS offenders.
“We note a number of jurisdictions are going it alone in regards to introduction of industrial manslaughter laws and we believe an overarching national framework for this is needed.”
“We say the need for reform arises from serious deficiencies in the approach taken by Regulators and the repeated failures or withdrawals of prosecutions and the awarding of manifestly inadequate financial penalties in cases of workplace death and serious injury.”
Michael Anderson State Secretary CEPU – Tasmania