Victoria’s controversial Workplace Deaths and Serious Injuries Bill has hit a snag: the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry has persuaded the Opposition it’s worth rejecting the Bill when it gets to the Upper House.

Opposition leader Denis Napthine said the Liberals will vote against the “grossly unfair” Bill because it won’t reduce workplace deaths “and [will] only send innocent people to jail”.

VECCI CEO Neil Coulson said the employer group has consistently emphasised its concerns about the Bill, in particular the likely impact of a shift away from a focus on accident prevention at a time when the number of deaths and injuries in Victorian workplaces is in decline. Last year 12 Victorians died

in workplace accidents.