Earlier this year, the Victorian Government initiated a significant review of sentencing practices for occupational health and safety (OHS) offences and provided the Sentencing Advisory Council with terms of reference for this purpose.
This review marks the first comprehensive examination of sentencing practices for OHS offences since the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 came into effect.
The Sentencing Advisory Council has released two reports addressing the sentencing of OHS offences. The first report is a consultation paper aimed at gathering community input on potential areas for reform, while the second report delves into court data to analyse how OHS offences are sentenced in Victoria.
The Council is actively seeking input from various stakeholders, including health and safety experts, employer and employee representatives, and the broader community. To facilitate this, a consultation period will be open until 31 May 2024.
For further details about the Council's consultation paper, events, and submission process, please visit the Sentencing Advisory Council website.