ACTU Congress has passed a motion affirming Australian Unions' ongoing commitment to wide-ranging reform on OHS issues, including national industrial manslaughter laws which would hold companies to account for workers killed by their negligence, systemic reform of all major OHS bodies, the total eradication of asbestos and the effective enforcement of a long-standing but ineffective ban on imports contaminated with the deadly substance.
A full list of the commitments made in the motion can be seen below.
"One death or injury at work is one too many. We need to change the rules so that every worker in Australia, from construction to offices to the gig economy, can rely on a safe and healthy workplace.
"Industrial manslaughter legislation will ensure that employers are held accountable when people die because they are trying to cut corners and save money. No worker should be put at risk to save their employer a few dollars.
"The 2003 ban on Asbestos importation isn't working, and workers are the ones who will suffer as a result. Enforcement of this ban should be a priority for the Turnbull Government, but instead they are giving $80 billion to big business.