Work Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017

The submission raised three concerns with the proposed offences of industrial manslaughter set out in the Bill. First, existing Queensland laws sanction senior company officers culpable of a fatality occurring at or in the course of work. Secondly, the Bill contravenes fundamental legislative principles by failing to provide any right of defence, reasonable excuse or relief in relation to the proposed industrial manslaughter offences. Thirdly, the Bill would undermine the national harmonisation of work health and safety laws. Due to these concerns, the AICD did not support the proposed offences.