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The NSW Government will introduce a bill in this sitting of parliament to create the offence of industrial manslaughter which allows for a maximum penalty of 25 years jail for an individual or $20 million in fines for a body corporate.

The government is delivering on its promise to introduce these tough new measures in the first half of this year.

NSW is the last mainland state without an industrial manslaughter offence.

The government has consulted widely across the community including work health and safety experts, business groups, unions, legal stakeholders, and families of people who have been killed at work and has incorporated that feedback into the creation of the new offence and penalties.

Industrial manslaughter laws will allow for a business or individual to be held responsible for the death of a person due to gross negligence in the workplace.

The current maximum penalty for the highest form of offence under the WHS Act – Category 1 is 5 years imprisonment for an individual or a $3.8 million fine for a body corporate.

A unit will be established in the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions that will be responsible for the prosecution of industrial manslaughter offences against individuals and, where appropriate, related bodies corporate.

Worker safety is a priority for the NSW Government and this bill underscores the importance of its continuing WHS reforms.

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“Every worker deserves to go home to their loved ones at the end of the day.

“No government should ever want to have to use these laws.

“Any workplace death is a tragedy and in cases where a person with a work health and safety duty has been careless or irresponsible, they must be held accountable.

“The offence of industrial manslaughter will apply to the worst of the worst cases where gross negligence has caused the death of a person in a workplace.”

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“We plan to strengthen existing laws with a new industrial manslaughter offence, to act as a further deterrent to unsafe work practices and to send a clear message that people who place workers’ lives at risk will be held to account.

“The maximum penalties under the legislation will be 25 years jail for an individual and $20 million for a body corporate.

“The significant maximum penalties that will apply for this offence make it clear how important it is to take a proactive approach to meeting work health and safety obligations to provide a safe workplace.”

The NSW Government has announced that 19 war memorials across the state are to receive NSW Government funding from Round 2 of the 2023/24 Community War Memorials Fund.

Funding of $150,000 has been made available through the program for this round, with grants being awarded to the successful applicants for projects that will support war memorials in NSW communities.

The successful recipients came from 16 Local Government Areas (LGA’s) with 13 electorates represented. The war memorials are located across the state, from Bombala in the far south, to Lake Cargelligo in the state’s west and McKees Hill in the far north.

Bombala RSL sub-Branch was awarded $10,000 for a condition assessment for the Bombala War Memorial to identify conservation works, and the Blackheath War Memorial Arch will also benefit from conservation work.

Twenty-eight applications from 23 LGA’s were received for assessment during this round, which closed on 11 February. 

Round 1 of the 2024/25 grant program is currently open and closes on 24 July 2024.

Get more information on the Community War Memorials Fund. 

Minister for Veterans, David Harris said:

“It is wonderful to announce this funding, which will be used for important projects around the state. Our communities are proud of their military history, and local war memorials are a vital part of our culture enabling us to reflect on over 100 years of our veterans’ service and sacrifice.

“A total of $150,496.65 was awarded to councils, RSL sub-Branches and community groups, with grants ranging from $2000 to $15,000 to fund conservation projects in 13 state electorates in both metropolitan and regional areas.”

“I encourage all communities to review the status of their local war memorials and to apply for funding for any restoration work that is needed.”

Mr Vern Carmody, Honorary Secretary Bombala RSL sub-Branch, said:

“Thank you to the NSW Government for this grant for the heritage assessment of our wonderful war memorial at Bombala. This will assist us to attain an assessment of the repairs and conservation required for this historical cenotaph that was erected for the citizens of Bombala in 1922.

“The memorial is a centrepiece of the Dawn Service and Veterans’ March every Anzac Day, and also used for Remembrance Day activities. Bombala RSL sub-Branch would also like to thank the staff of the Snowy-Monaro Regional Council who assisted us in the preparation of the grant application.”

Dr Rosemary Dillon, CEO Blue Mountains City Council, said:

“Local war memorials are central features of our towns and villages, and they are precious to us all. They pay respect to those who put their country and their fellow service men and women before them. They are an ode to those who fought so we can have the freedoms we take for granted today.

“Erected around 1929, the Blackheath War Memorial contains 76 names of local men who served overseas in the First World War, including six who died on active service. This funding will go towards restoration works at Blackheath War Memorial, which will help with the protection and conservation of the memorial for years to come.”

The NSW Government is today announcing a $111.8 million package of initiatives to support community mental health and wellbeing by increasing the essential help available to the people of NSW when they need it.

Over 2 in 5 Australians aged 16 to 85 are estimated to have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their life.

People living with mental illness, particularly those with severe mental illness, are more at risk of experiencing a range of adverse health outcomes and have a lower average life expectancy than the general population, with men’s life expectancies being reduced by 15.9 years, and for women by 12 years.

The initiatives announced today are designed to enhance and support the wellbeing of the people of NSW.

$30.4 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH TEAMS

The NSW Government will invest $30.4 million over 4 years to expand Community Mental Health Teams across targeted areas, including in regional NSW.

These teams work within Local Health Districts and specialty health networks caring for those who experience persistent and complex mental illness.

This funding will provide a workforce boost of approximately 35 additional mental health positions, which will support community outreach, allow for extended hours of service and enable more comprehensive case management.

It will also strengthen coordination of care, enhance access to specialist psychological services and improve family involvement in care.

The 35 additional mental health professionals will include five out-reach mental health housing liaison positions who will work with the Department of Communities and Justice to link people at risk of, or experiencing homelessness, who are accessing mental health services to housing and help them sustain tenancies.

The St Vincent’s Health network will also be allocated 5 workers to establish a new assertive adult community mental health team.

This will allow them to increase their support for those facing complex needs, including those experiencing homelessness, substance misuse issues and those at risk of engagement with the criminal justice system.

$40 MILLION FOR THE PATHWAYS TO COMMUNITY LIVING INITATIVE

The NSW Government will invest $40 million over four years for the Pathways to Community Living Initiative, which is focused on supporting alternatives to long term hospital care for people with complex needs, who have persistent mental illness.

This funding will fund a complex care clinical workforce of over 25 professionals who will support patients through this program.

$39 MILLION FOR A MENTAL HEALTH SINGLE FRONT DOOR

The NSW Government will invest an additional $39 million over four years to strengthen mental health services by establishing a new Mental Health Single Front Door.

The NSW Single Front Door, delivered through Healthdirect currently provides virtual GP, virtual KIDS and Urgent Care Services.

This funding will allow this service to be expanded to allow those in need of mental health support to call Healthdirect and receive assessment advice from specialist clinicians and be connected with the appropriate services.

This initiative has been developed in consultation with carers, mental health professionals, a range of service providers, and those who may use the service.

Last year, 124,467 Emergency Department visits were made for mental health. It is estimated that approximately 25 per cent of these would have been suitable to receive support through other primary care settings.

By providing callers with information on alternative care pathways, the establishment of a Mental Health Single Front Door will reduce avoidable Emergency Department presentations and improve patient flow across hospitals.

$2.4 MILLION FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH REVIEW TRIBUNAL

The Mental Health Review Tribunal will receive an additional $2.4 million over four years to enable a long overdue digitisation of records, an upgrade to IT systems and an investment in a new case management system.

These system improvements will support the Tribunal to meet the continued growth in patients and hearings.

Since being elected the Minns Labor Government has been working on a comprehensive plan to strengthen our mental health system.

We know it faces significant challenges, but we are making the responsible decisions to ensure the people of NSW have the care and services they deserve and need.

We want a fully staffed mental health care system that is responsive and well resourced.

Chris Minns, Premier of NSW said:

“We know that people across the state are doing it tough right now, and for many in our community, mental health services are a vital lifeline when they need it most.

“Mental health is an important and ongoing conversation, and this funding is an important step in directly intervening to provide care for the people of NSW.”

Daniel Mookhey, NSW Treasurer said:

“This community mental health package is a must-have for people who need more help across NSW.

“We can afford to do this because we are paying less in interest. Lower debt means we can reinvest these savings into helping provide care for thousands of people in need.”

Minister for Health, Ryan Park said:

“We have seen first hand the success of the NSW Single Front Door model delivered via Healthdirect. The development of a Mental Health Single Front Door is a common sense decision to ensure expert mental health support is available to those who need it.”

Minister for Mental Health, Rose Jackson said:

“Our government is committed to taking meaningful action to support the mental health of the people of NSW – regardless of the complexity or duration of a patient’s experience, this package has been designed to offer help when it is needed.

“This is an important step in the NSW Government’s approach to mental health support, but it is not the final one.

“I am committed to continuing to work with experts in the field on long term interventions.”

Struggling families are missing out on vital payments during the cost of living crisis, with new figures revealing Services Australia is sitting on more than 232,000 claims that are yet to be processed after more than 90 days.

The following table lists the number of social security and welfare claims and health work on hand at Services Australia as at 25 March 2024 that are older than 90 days.

	90-129 days	130-199 days	200+ days
Social security and welfare	27,022	15,552	7,013
Health	62,502	63,622	57,126

The agency’s own timeliness standard requires that the majority of social security and welfare claims are processed within 30 days, while the majority of claims submitted digitally under the Medicare Benefit Schedule are required to be processed within 7 days of lodgement. 

The Opposition obtained the data following a series of parliamentary Questions in Writing.

Shadow Minister for Government Services Paul Fletcher said the figures are a stark reminder of the Albanese Labor Government’s shocking mismanagement of this crucial agency.

“Vital Centrelink and Medicare claims are gathering dust under the Albanese Labor Government because there is zero focus on delivering great customer service,” Mr Fletcher said.

“Families are doing it tough and need claims processed quickly and efficiently. Instead, they are being subjected to an unacceptably slow system that makes life harder for them.

“What’s the point of having a timeliness standard if you’re not going to get anywhere near achieving it?

“Bill Shorten is doing a terrible job as Minister and needs to demonstrate leadership. Simply boosting Canberra’s bureaucracy and pleasing the unions isn’t good enough.”