July 1 often marks the start of new legislative changes in Australia as the new financial year begins.
In Victoria, the new financial year will mean new workplace legislation comes into effect – primarily, that workplace manslaughter will become law.
The change means that there will be tougher penalties in place for employers and PCBUs negligently causing workplace fatalities.
The new laws carry a maximum penalty of up to $16.5 million and a jail term of up to 20 years if individuals are found to be directly responsible for a worker’s death.
To date, 25 people have lost their lives on worksites in Victoria this year.
Workplace industrial manslaughter laws are already in effect in Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, and Victoria.
To date, there have been two cases in Queensland that have involved the new legislation. No one in Australia has been jailed under industrial manslaughter legislation changes.