Media Release

28 April 2021

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NSW Labor will move to put new industrial manslaughter laws before the NSW Parliament when it sits next week.

This announcement was made on the International Day of Mourning, which honours working people from Australia and around the world who have been killed and injured at work.

“Everyone who goes to work deserves to come home safely. That is why governments need to ensure the very highest standards of workplace safety are properly upheld. Sadly, the Liberal National Government has dropped the ball on this”  — Adam Searle MLC, Labor Leader in the Legislative Council, Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations

“The tragic case of Christopher Cassiniti is just one example of what is wrong with the current laws and their enforcement,” Mr Searle said.

“Last year, the NSW upper house fell just short of passing an industrial manslaughter law for NSW. I am asking all parties and members to approach the issue again with open minds.”

Shadow Minister for Consumer Protection Julia Finn said: “We need to develop a culture that supports workplace safety in NSW, not one that scrimps on safety and cuts corners in the pursuit of a quick buck.

“We need to send the clearest signal that even one death at work is too many and that if you do the wrong thing there will be strong consequences,” Ms Finn said.