The Victorian Government will support the Ballarat community to pay tribute to Victorians who have lost their lives at work – while continuing to improve workplace safety and keep more families together.
Acting Premier James Merlino and Minister for Workplace Safety Ingrid Stitt joined Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison in Ballarat to announce the Victorian Government’s $50,000 contribution towards the Ballarat Regional Workers’ Memorial.
The memorial will commemorate Jack Brownlee and Charlie Howkins, two local workers who tragically lost their lives in a workplace accident in 2018. Sunday marked the third anniversary of their deaths.
Since the accident, their families have been tireless advocates for strengthening workplace safety in Victoria – contributing to the development of the Victorian Government’s landmark workplace manslaughter laws.
Coming into effect in July last year, the laws make workplace manslaughter a criminal offence – with negligent employers facing tough new penalties, including fines of up to $16.5 million for companies and up to 25 years in jail for individuals.
The Government is continuing to work closely with those affected by serious workplace incidents to strengthen the workplace safety framework and make sure workers and their loved ones are given the support they need.
This includes establishing the Workplace Incidents Consultative Committee, which is due to convene in mid-2021 and will provide advice to Government on how to best support injured workers and their families, prevent serious workplace incidents and make Victorian workplaces safer.
Last year, 65 people sadly lost their lives due to work-related injury or disease in Victorian workplaces.
The Government has broadened the criteria that defines a workplace death – meaning every loss of life in a Victorian workplace gets the recognition it deserves, and more affected families can access vital support services.
Work-related transport incidents, industrial disease, criminal acts, and medical or suicide incidents are now all recognised in the fatality toll – shining a light on these significant workplace health and safety issues.
Source: Vic Government