CFMEU rally in protest over workplace safety following spate of deaths

The family of a 17-year-old killed on a Brisbane worksite have launched a scathing attack on workplace safety in Queensland.

The family of Tyler Whitton has made a heartfelt plea for more to be done to stop workplace fatalities after he died at a site at West End.

Members of the family flew from different parts of Australia to join a CFMEU protest which called for an independent review of the Office of Industrial Relations and an overhaul of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.

Joanne Crisp (centre) and Chelsea Whitton (right), grandmother and sister of construction worker Tyler Whitton who died in a workplace accident. Picture: Dan Peled

Protesters marched outside Parliament House after a spate of fatalities on Queensland construction sites including Tyler’s loss in September, aged just 17.

“When Tyler died, we all died and turned to shambles,” his grandmother Joanne Crisp said. “Queensland is rated second to New South Wales for the most workplace fatalities this year. When is enough enough?

“He was far too young, he’s never to be replaced, never to come home. We were forced to endure pain, grief like no other.

“The impact of losing him to a preventable death.”

Tyler Whitton with his father Luke Whitton. Picture: Supplied

She said this should never have happened to her grandchild, and any family member should have the right to come home after work.

“I am here for Tyler. We want to raise his blood from the concrete,” she said.

Tyler’s other grandmother, Liz Whitton, said: “It’s a huge tragedy there and I just like to say someone needs to be accountable for this sort of tragedy for the family.

“There needs to be something done about industrial manslaughter.”

His grandfather Jack Whitton said he went to the site after his grandson died and was appalled by what he saw.

“It was eerie. It was difficult, it was just horrible,” he said.

“There were safety concerns. Just the gaps in the safety is pretty atrocious and it was so obvious.”

Construction workers take part in a CFMEU union rally outside Parliament House in Brisbane. Picture: Dan Peled

Mr Whitton said the family were speaking so “it doesn’t happen again”.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace in a statement in parliament ahead of the CFMEU protest revealed Workplace Health and Safety Queensland would conduct a safety blitz on mid-sized companies and concrete pumping businesses.

CFMEU state secretary Michael Ravbar said more needed to be done.

“The government’s failure to modernise outdated safety regulations and stop the rot in the Office of Industrial Relations has led to chaos and carnage in the construction industry,” he said.

“We recently saw three worker fatalities in a fortnight, yet the response from the Minister for

Mr Ravbar said blood was on the government’s hands.

“They have ignored repeated warnings about deteriorating safety standards and refused to cut out the cancer at WHSQ,” he said

“Our members are sick of seeing Labor politicians cry crocodile tears for dead workers and then do nothing to help prevent the next tragedy from occurring.

“Workers now know exactly where they stand with a missing in action Minister for Industrial Relations and an out of touch Premier. They will not forgive or forget this betrayal.”

CFMEU workers line the streets near Parliament House in Brisbane. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

At the rally, hundreds of people screamed “Annastacia you can stop it, workers’ lives are not for profit” and the fact they wanted “safe sites now”.

Mr Ravbar said union members protested two months ago, and had a meeting thinking there would be change but that never happened.

“What we need to do is make some resolutions here,” he said.

After the protest CFMEU and some of Tyler’s family members met with the Premier.

“I thought after the last rally, we thought she might have got the message,” Ms Crisp said.

“I was hoping when it comes to safety she would care.”

CFMEU Qld boss Michael Ravbar. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Ms Grace sent her condolences to the families of people who had been killed in workplace incidents and said the government “can always do more”.

CFMEU assistant secretary Jade Ingham said the union would keep coming back until the mess of health and safety was fixed.

“No worker deserves to put their life at risk just to make somebody a profit,” he said.

“We also want to recognise that in this horror period that we had in a 10 day period in and around Tyler’s tragedy we also had two other fatalities in Queensland in the construction industry.

“Unfortunately we are now connected. Too many times over the years have we built connections based on tragedy.”

Mr Ingham said they would continue to say their names so that their lives aren’t lost.

“We are not going to be treated like numbers on a spreadsheet anymore, like a cost of doing business,” he said.

“All these incidents of these tragedies, the common factor in every single one is greed is business that should have been implemented on the job, proper systems proper structures, proper representation on the job so the workers have got a voice.

“This is what we continue to fight for. And most of you here are fortunate enough and privileged enough to work on a job where there is representation from strong militant construction unions.”