NSW approves legislation on industrial manslaughter

The Work Health and Safety Amendment (Industrial Manslaughter) Bill 2024 has been approved by the NSW Parliament.

More than 300 NSW workers have lost their lives since 2019, according to data from the state Government.

The Industrial Manslaughter legislation empowers prosecutors to hold a business or individual accountable for a person's death resulting from severe negligence in the workplace.

The Government says a new department will be created within the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to provide support.

Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis described this as a significant milestone for worker safety in New South Wales.

“These are not laws we ever want to use. We want them to act as a deterrent and a reminder that this government takes worker safety seriously,” she said.

For more information click here.