Pike River Manslaughter charges make work safety a sick joke
The new investigation into the Pike River mine disaster, which killed 29 men in 2010, has cost police at least $35 million in what appears to be the most expensive criminal inquiry in New Zealand’s history.
The Herald understands the inquiry has reached its closing stages, with Crown prosecutors currently studying police recommendations on possible charges after eight years of investigation.
Manslaughter charges are among those being considered, the Herald has learned.
NZME
It is criminal isn’t it?
16 years after 29 men were killed, the Police are barely starting prosecution.
The real tragedy is the way Brook Van Velden watered down the very regulations supposed to prevent another Pike River from ever happening again.
Her Employment Relations law overhaul empowered bosses.
Her Removal of the “30-day rule” for new workers to be on existing Collective agreements weakened worker rights.
Trashing contractors to keep them weak against bosses protected only the bosses..
And her WorkSafe downgrade to make workplaces less safe with enforcement changes that amounted to coddling bosses rather than prosecuting them!
We have refused to learn the lessons of our past. 16 years waiting for a prosecution manages to add insult to injury.
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Both the criminal and civil courses of action were watered down.