Bosses Back Jail For Cowboys

Nine out of ten NSW employers back the gaoling of bosses who "deliberately and recklessly put their employees’ lives at risk" according to a NSW Chamber of Commerce survey.

The Chamber of Commerce survey was welcomed by the state minister and echoed sentiment from NSW unions, who have been calling for changes to the law give jail sentences to killer bosses.

"Workplace safety is not just a union issue," says Andrew Ferguson from the CFMEU. "Safety is everybody's issue, and the sooner Government, unions and employers work together to crack down on the handful of rogues who cut corners with safety, the sooner we will see a marked drop in the number of deaths and injuries at work."

"In six months of consultations about a draft Workplace Fatalities Bill, employers have consistently told me they want the full force of the law applied to the cowboys whose disregard of basic safety laws results in death," Says NSW Minister for Commerce, John Della Bosca. "I will continue consulting to ensure we develop laws that target the irresponsible rogues, which is what the entire community wants us to do."

The State Chamber of Commerce polled 245 businesses in Sydney and across regional NSW.

Following recommendations from a panel of eminent barristers, a draft Bill was released for public consultation in October last year. The Bill contains no new duties for employers and no new offences; however, concerns have been raised about some aspects of the draft. The Minister has given assurances it will not be introduced in its current form.

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Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:37 EST