[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Legislative Changes Promised on International Workers Memorial Day_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

INTERNATIONAL WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY 
Greens Commit to Legislative Reform to Improve Criminal Liability of
Organisations
Tasmanian Greens MP Nick McKim 
Deputy Leader and Industrial Relations Spokesperson
Monday, 28 April 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today marked International Workers Memorial Day by
committing to re-introduce a Bill to create a legislative framework to
require employers to do more to provide safe workplaces for Tasmanian
workers.

Greens Deputy Leader and Shadow Industrial Relations spokesperson Nick
McKim MP, who attended today's ceremony at Parliament House, said that
current law does not provide a method to adequately hold corporations
criminally liable where culpability for traditional crimes exists, and
challenged Premier Paul Lennon to support reform in this area. 

"As we remember all those workers who have set out for a day's work and
never returned, I can confirm that the Greens will again move in the
Parliament to make Tasmanian workplaces safer," Mr McKim said.

"A Report by the Law Reform Institute recommended major changes to
Tasmanian law in this area, but the Lennon government has failed to act
due to its closeness to big business." 

Mr McKim previously tabled the Criminal Code Amendment (Clarification of
Organisational Liability) Bill 2007 in the House of Assembly, and today
committed to re-introducing and debating the Bill later this year.

"If the Lennon government continues to stonewall, the Greens will once
again step up to the plate and attempt to advance the interests of
Tasmania's workers in the State Parliament."