NSW is launching a dedicated legal team, funded with $6.9 million until 2028/29, to enforce stricter industrial manslaughter laws and hold employers accountable for workplace deaths.

Work Health and Safety Minister Sophie Cotsis highlighted the importance of ensuring negligent workplaces are held responsible, reaffirming every worker's right to a safe environment.

Recent legislative updates in NSW have significantly increased penalties for workplace manslaughter, with jail sentences rising from a maximum of 10 to 25 years and fines for businesses doubling from $11 million to $20 million.

While NSW's maximum jail term for industrial manslaughter now matches Victoria's, NSW imposes slightly higher fines; similarly, Tasmania passed comparable laws in 2024 despite political opposition.

The new legal team includes a senior solicitor, two additional solicitors, and a witness assistance officer, focusing on prosecuting individuals and corporations involved in workplace fatalities.

This initiative responds to the troubling statistic that one worker dies at work each week in NSW, demonstrating the government's strong commitment to improving workplace safety.