Defence charged for endangering employee's mental health

The federal work health and safety regulator, Comcare, has brought charges against the Department of Defence for violating federal WHS regulations concerning psychosocial risks at a Queensland Army base.

Following a Comcare probe, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions has charged the department of defence with three breaches of federal WHS regulations.

The CDPP accuses the department of breaching its main duty of care according to section 19(1) of the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act).

The CDPP alleges that “Defence’s failures exposed an Australian Defence Force member to a risk of death or serious injury – including the risk of self-harm or suicide – arising from stressors or mental health issues being experienced while geographically isolated from their chain of command.”

The parties will appear in court early next month.

Read more here.