The Workplace Safety Legislation Amendment (Workplace
Manslaughter and Other Matters) Act 2019 (VIC)
(Amending Act) introduces significant changes to
Victoria's workplace manslaughter offences, with their soon to
be new powers of imprisonment or significant fines for individuals
and companies/associations found guilty of such conduct. The
purported aim of the Amending Act is to prevent deaths at work.
The Amending Act was assented to on 3 December 2019 and will
likely come into effect during the first half of 2020 (or by 1 July
2020 at the latest).
The Amending Act amends the Occupational Health and Safety
Act 2004 (VIC) (OHS Act), inserting a part 5A
– 'Voluntary Manslaughter' to provide for offences of
workplace manslaughter and to provide for the establishment of the
Workplace Incidents Consultative Committee.
