ACT Industrial Relations Minister Mick Gentleman has hit out at the federal government for voting down industrial manslaughter model laws.
Mr Gentleman met with his federal, state and territory counterparts on Thursday to consider recommendations from a review into model work health and safety laws.
The 2018 independent review by Marie Boland had recommended new industrial manslaughter laws, which would mean employers were faced with greater liability in the event of a worker's death.
Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory all voted in favour of introducing new model laws. But a two-thirds majority was needed.
Federal Industrial Relations Minister Michaelia Cash, who was the deciding vote, voted against the model laws.
Mr Gentleman said the ACT had voted with other Labor states and territories in favour of the new laws.
"But we knew we could not count on the support of the federal minister - this is why we have moved ahead on our own to introduce industrial manslaughter in the work health and safety act," Mr Gentleman said in a statement.
"This will include jail time as a penalty for industrial manslaughter."
Mr Gentleman said the ministers also agreed to take further action on deaths and injuries of gig economy workers, but he called it a "bandaid solution".
"The gig economy model relies on insecure work and unsafe conditions and is fundamentally stacked against workers rights," he said.
"Because these workers are not recognised as employees, they may be denied basic rights and entitlements and rights such as fair pay.
"This creates the dangerous conditions that have contributed to so many gig economy injuries and deaths."
