Inpex death: ‘Industrial manslaughter laws must be introduced’, says ETU

INDUSTRIAL manslaughter laws must be introduced in order to force large companies to keep their workers safe, the Electrical Trades Union has said

ETU Queensland and NT State Secretary Peter Ong believes industrial manslaughter legislation may be the only way to force companies to fulfil their safety obligations Picture: LIAM KIDSTON

INDUSTRIAL manslaughter laws must be introduced in order to force large companies to keep their workers safe, the NT unions have argued.

The call comes after Whittens worker Carl Delaney died when he fell into the insulation he was installing in tank two on the Inpex site last week.

Electrical Trades Union Queensland and NT state secretary Peter Ong said the project had been plagued by a culture of fear and intimidation against workers who spoke out against safety issues over the past four years.

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He said industrial manslaughter legislation may be the only way to force companies such as Inpex, JKC and their contractors to fulfil their safety obligations to workers and prevent further tragedies occurring.

“We owe it to Carl and his family to make sure we fix the culture on this project and try and stop this culture from continuing on other construction sites,” he said.

“We call on the NT Government to strengthen their health and safety legislation, to audit NT Work Safe and introduce industrial manslaughter laws like those introduced in Queensland.

“The only thing that is going to stop these companies and big business from putting workers lives secondary to profits is the threat of going to jail for killing workers.”

However, Attorney-General Natasha Fyles said the government was not looking at immediately implementing a new law. “In terms of worker health safety, the act is currently under review nationally and the NT is participating in that,” she said. “The NT has strong workplace regulations and these are implemented by worksafe here in the Territory.

“We are participating in that national review and certainly will await the outcomes of that before we move to make any changes.”

Ms Fyles said it was better to have national uniform legislation in regards to workplace health and safety.

The CFMEU is also arguing for the changes, after the death of its member.

NT organiser Kane Lowth said: “taking serious action on behalf of family and loved ones of people who are killed at work should be taken out of the hands of ineffective institutions like NT Worksafe”.