We must fight to make our workplaces safer

INTERNATIONAL Workers’ Memorial Day, a day to mourn workers who have gone to work and never returned home, was on Tuesday, April 28.

It is also a chance to acknowledge that we need safer workplaces so families and communities can avoid preventable pain and heartbreak.

Sadly, nothing can bring those workers home to their families.

In the past year there have been 168 deaths at work. That’s 168 lives that ended in tragedy.

It is a national tragedy that this number continues to rise, up from 144 in 2018. In a country like ours, workplaces should be getting safer, not causing more deaths.

Preliminary figures show at least 63 workers have already lost their lives this year, which compares with 62 lives lost at the same time last year.

In Townsville, we have seen a number of workplace deaths involving manufacturing workers and steel workers in previous years. These deaths can’t go on.

This year, my thoughts are also with essential workers who are putting their lives at risk during this coronavirus pandemic.

It is a nervous time for those workers, but we know their heroic actions are what will get us through this pandemic. We all appreciate the work they do and the risks they are taking. We are staying home for them.

As we do each year on International Workers’ Memorial Day, we remember the dead and vow to fight for the living so more Australians can come home to their families after this crisis and for many years to come.

NITA GREEN, Queensland Labor Senator.