Breathtaking Lectures On Truth And Justice
The deadly double-standards of the Andrews Labor Government in Victoria have been neon-lit by its Minister for Workplace Safety.
The Minister, Ingrid Stitt, this week issued a media release ‘…reminding employers of the serious consequences for failing to meet health and safety obligations…’
It said 65 people died in Victorian workplaces in 2020 - and 70 in 2019 `due to work related injury or disease’.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, said the release failed to mention the 801 deaths caused via the government’s catastrophic Hotel Quarantine program last year.
“The release should read 866 workplace deaths in Victoria, not 65. It’s that simple.”
“This is top-shelf arrogance and hypocrisy.
“The Premier and his Ministers are imploring their preferred look-the-other-way method for dealing with this mess,” Mrs McArthur said.
The new laws also encompass workplace deaths from medical incidents and industrial disease.
“We watch very closely to see how WorkSafe applies these terms to this matter,” she said.
During the Workplace Safety Legislation Amendment (Workplace Manslaughter and Other Matter) Act 2019 debate, Minister Gayle Tierney admitted the legislation applies to the Government:
“Ministers of the Crown are covered by this bill; there is no doubt about it.”
There are at least 23 investigations currently underway in relation to the coronavirus pandemic.
“One would hope that the State Government is among those being investigated given Victoria’s aged care facilities and the quarantine hotels are also workplaces.
A prosecution under the Victorian legislation has no statutory limit for workplace manslaughter.
“It is troubling to note that WorkSafe told the media in January that an investigation could take up to two years to complete.
“If an investigation into the Government’s culpability on this matter was conducted to that timeframe, it’s unlikely anything would be public until after the 2022 State Election.
“That would trouble most fair-minded Victorians. WorkSafe’s integrity and independence is on trial here."
In her release, Minister Stitt said: “One workplace death is one too many, and the loss of 65 workers in 2020 is absolutely devastating.”
“She got the description right, she just needs to multiply the loss by more than 13 times,” Mrs McArthur said.
18 March 2021