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The writing's on the wall

Australian unions are making a big claim for a corporate killing law. Massive billboards calling for the introduction of industrial manslaughter legislation into law can now be found at key locations around Sydney.

The billboards feature the body of "A Worker," with a toe tag stating the cause of death as poor safety practices. The billboards are backed by construction union CFMEU and manufacturing union AMWU in New South Wales (NSW).

Peter McClelland of CFMEU said safety crimes must be taken seriously, with "a range of options including prison and disqualification from being a company director."

Wayne Phillips of AMWU, said company directors should be charged with industrial manslaughter if they were aware of a safety problem, did not act and a worker died as a result. NSW has a specialist unit within WorkCover, its safety enforcement agency, to investigate every workplace fatality with a view to criminal prosecutions.