International Workers' Memorial Day
Brief ministerial statement
Ms Simone McGurk (Fremantle—Minister for Industrial Relations) (9:04 am): As most in this chamber will know, Monday 28 April was International Workers' Memorial Day. A memorial service was held at Solidarity Park to commemorate, reflect on and remember those workers who have lost their lives or been severely injured at work. Family, friends, colleagues, union representatives and members joined together to reflect on and remember their loved ones. I would like to acknowledge those members in this chamber who joined me in laying a wreath and remembering the lives lost and recognising the profound and widespread impacts of even one workplace death.
Tragically, there have been 24 work-related deaths this financial year, which is 24 too many. This is a clear indicator that there is still more to be done in workplace safety. The Cook Labor government believes deeply that every worker who goes to work should return home safely at the end of their day. This government has a strong track record on worker safety, including major reforms to the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 and providing stronger protections for workers and larger penalties for employer noncompliance. Just last year, we banned engineered stone and introduced stronger regulations for crystalline silica to protect workers from silicosis.
Although the Labor government has delivered major reforms to protect workers, there is always more to be done. I would like to reaffirm this government's commitment to ensuring worker safety and to continuing to work with unions and industry to deliver safe and healthy workplaces across Western Australia.
