Wednesday, 11 May 2022

International Workers Memorial Day

Ms STITT (Western Metropolitan—Minister for Workplace Safety, Minister for Early Childhood) (09:58): 28 April marked International Workers Memorial Day, a day where we remember those who have died or been seriously injured at work in Victoria and around the world. The day is a rallying cry to honour the dead and recommit to fight for the living. In 2021 alone 68 workers lost their lives at work in Victoria. So far this year 15 workers have lost their lives at work, and all but one of those workers were men over the age of 40. Every one of those deaths was an unacceptable and preventable tragedy and highlights that our work is not done and will never be done while one worker fails to return from work safely. I send my deepest condolences to the families, loved ones and workmates of all Victorian workers who have been killed at work.

This year I had the honour of attending the memorial at the Victorian Trades Hall Council alongside my colleagues the Minister for Industrial Relations, Tim Pallas MP, and Bronwyn Halfpenny, the Parliamentary Secretary for Workplace Safety, and my upper house colleagues Ms Watt and Mr Melhem. The Andrews Labor government is absolutely, steadfastly committed to delivering important reforms to make sure that every workplace in Victoria is safe and that injured workers and their families get the support that they need. We have got to all recommit to collectively work together to prevent both physical and mental injury in Victorian workplaces. Every single person should be safe at work and should return home safely each day. It is an absolute fundamental right.