Australian construction workers have today slammed both sides of politics for turning their backs on moves towards nationwide industrial manslaughter laws.

The criticism follows a decision by both the major parties in the Australian Senate today to vote down a motion in support of tougher action against employers whose negligence results in the death of a worker.

The Australian Greens’ motion put up in the Senate today noted the need for strong national industrial manslaughter laws. 

The CFMEU, which represents more than 100,000 workers employed in one of the country’s most high-risk industries, said the decision highlighted the negligence and hypocrisy on both sides of politics.  

“If the tragic deaths of four young insulation workers have highlighted anything at all it the need for the toughest possible occupational health and safety laws and industry regulations in Australia,”  said CFMEU Construction National Secretary, Dave Noonan.

 “The tragic reality is the we have witnessed little more than political posturing from both sides of politics.

 “The Opposition leader has made claims of industrial manslaughter against the Federal Government, yet he is unwilling or uninterested to support national industrial manslaughter laws. 

 “Meanwhile, the community has every right to be concerned about the Federal Government’s proposed Occupational Health and Safety harmonization which undermines some of the country's strongest workplace safety laws in NSW.

 “This is utter negligence and hypocrisy on both sides of politics."

 Mr Noonan also said the decision to walk away from tough safety laws suggested both sides of politics were more concerned about big business than the occupational health and safety of Australian workers.

 “It would appear that by turning their backs on the toughest safety laws like industrial manslaughter both the major parties are more concerned about the profits of their mates in big business than they are about the safety of ordinary working people.”