The new and very serious offence of "Industrial
Manslaughter" was introduced to Queensland on 23 October 2017,
when the Queensland Parliament passed the Work Health and
Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2017
("Act").
The Act represents the Palaszczuk government's response to
recommendations contained in the report commissioned in response to
the workplace fatalities that occurred at Dreamworld and Eagle Farm
racecourse in late 2016.
The review recommended a total of 58 changes to the work health
and safety ("WHS") regulatory framework
in Queensland. The Act addresses the majority of these
recommendations.
Industrial manslaughter – The new offence
The centrepiece of the Act is the introduction of a new offence
of "Industrial Manslaughter" now included in each of the
Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) ("WHS
Act"), the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
and the Safety in Recreational Water Activities Act 2011
(Qld). Notably, the offence does not apply
