The mother of a Canberra construction worker killed in a workplace accident has called for a federal taskforce to ensure all recommendations from a recent Senate committee report on industrial deaths are carried out.
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Kay Catanzariti, whose son Ben died on a Kingston foreshore construction site in 2012 after he was hit by a concrete-pouring boom, said such a taskforce should be funded by the government for three years to make sure all 34 recommendations are implemented.
"It's all well and good to have these recommendations, but who is going to fund it and who is going to make sure they're all followed through?" Ms Catanzariti said.
"The government needs to allocate a taskforce team that's solely there to make sure these recommendations are followed through."
Among the report's recommendations, which were tabled in parliament last week, were calls to make industrial manslaughter charges uniform across all jurisdictions, similar to those seen in Queensland.
There were also recommendations to lengthen the limitation period for prosecutions relating to workplace deaths, with ACT investigators only having two years to collect evidence.
Ms Catanzariti, who was in Canberra last week with other affected families to speak to federal MPs about industrial death prevention, said further consultation with family members was needed.
"The government has three months to formally respond to the report, which is the first sitting week in 2019," she said.
"Even though we've been campaigning for years, it's only just starting."
Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O'Dwyer told the Sunday Canberra Times the federal government is considering the recommendations of the report, but did not say whether all 34 will be implemented.
"We must work together with the states and territories to ensure there is better care and support, better communication and resources, better investigations and prosecutions," Ms O'Dwyer said.
"In every state and territory and the commonwealth, regulators and investigators can do a better job."
Safe Work Australia is also undertaking a review into national health and safety laws, looking into offences and sentencing guidelines around industrial deaths.
It's set to report to the government early next year.
Ms O'Dwyer said families affected by industrial deaths need to be able to have a place to receive support and advice.
"While workplace fatalities have reduced by 48 per cent from a peak in 2007, there is always more that must be done," she said.
"To lose a loved one in a workplace accident is a terrible tragedy."
An ACT government spokeswoman said the territory government is reviewing the outcomes of the report and would look to see how they align with with Safe Work Australia review.
"The ACT government indicated in our submission and evidence to the senate inquiry and to the national WHS review that we would support industrial manslaughter provisions based on those in Queensland," the spokeswoman said.
"We will consider the recommendations of the national WHS review before making any updates.
"WorkSafe ACT is always conscious of aligning its policies and procedures with best practice."
In the time since the senate report was tabled, Ms Catanzariti has said she's been inundated by other affected families, many unaware of there being an inquiry into workplace deaths.
"We've grown in strength and we're working out a strategy," she said.
"If the government don't accept all these recommendations, we're wondering what we're going to do next.
"If politicians could give us a reply as to what they're going to do before the summer break, that would give us peace of mind and hopefully they'll be able to accept the findings."
