'Chapter closing': outlier passes workplace safety laws

Tasmania has joined the rest of Australia by passing industrial manslaughter laws. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

For two decades Guy Hudson has been fighting for justice after his 16-year-old son Matthew died in a forklift rollover at work. 

He has finally marked the closing of a chapter after Tasmania joined the rest of Australia in passing industrial manslaughter laws. 

It means corporations and individuals can be charged for negligence or breach of duty over a death at work.

Maximum penalties are 21 years' jail and fines of up to $18 million for corporations.

Mr Hudson said his campaign for industrial manslaughter laws was not just about Matthew but to ensure everyone's loved ones were safe at work. 

Guy Hudson
Guy Hudson campaigned for change after his teenage son dies in a workplace accident 20 years ago.

Matthew was killed at a meatworks in Tasmania's north in 2004 when the forklift he was operating rolled. He did not have a licence to operate the machinery. 

The meatworks owner was fined $75,000 after a court appeal for failing to ensure a worker was safe while the contractor involved was found not liable. 

"The hardest grief to live with is the loss of a child. Today my wife and I can close that chapter of our lives," Mr Hudson said on Wednesday. 

"For all those workers who have lost their lives ... Tasmania now has a law that will give families some justice and safe work practices." 

Between 2012 and 2022, 85 work-related deaths occurred in the island state, according to Unions Tasmania.

"(These laws have) been a long time coming and we can finally say Tasmania is an outlier no more," union secretary Jessica Munday said. 

"It would be great not to need these laws … but they're an important part of our safety system that has been missing." 

The legislation, which passed Tasmania's upper house on Tuesday, was opposed by the state's Liberal minority government. 

The bill was put forward by Labor, with Opposition Leader Dean Winter saying it sends a clear message to employers. 

Tasmanian Labor Opposition Leader Dean Winter
The legislation was proposed by Opposition Leader Dean Winter.

Liberal upper house MP Leonie Hiscutt said the government maintained its position that a specific industrial manslaughter offence was not needed. 

"Tasmania is well served by existing criminal laws, including our broad crime of manslaughter in the criminal code," she said during parliamentary debate.

"The reality is that there are likely to be very few cases that might justify a charge of manslaughter.

"Criminal, gross or culpable negligence ... has not been present in workplace fatalities to date." 

Tasmania's Small Business Council had urged politicians to not support the law changes, saying owners wouldn't have the money to defend themselves in court. 

Mr Hudson urged businesses to reach out to the regulator to ensure operations were best practice.

NSW in June became the final mainland state to pass industrial manslaughter laws, carrying penalties of up to 25 years' jail and a $20 million fine for corporations.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store