Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor – Brisbane QLD

Lead Queensland's independent workplace and resources safety prosecution office.

The Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor (WHSP) is an independent prosecution office established under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. It conducts and defends proceedings under Queensland's workplace and resources health and safety laws and is provided with administrative support by the Office of Industrial Relations.

The office delivers an independent, efficient, effective and transparent prosecution service that contributes to the safety of Queensland workers and the broader community. Its work encompasses workplace health and safety, electrical safety, recreational water activities and resources safety legislation.

The WHSP is an independent statutory officer appointed by the Governor in Council and serves as Chief Executive of the Office of the WHSP.

This is first and foremost a senior prosecution leadership appointment. The successful candidate will exercise independent prosecutorial judgement, direct the conduct of complex and significant matters and maintain public confidence in the integrity of the office's decision-making.

Key responsibilities include:

- making independent, informed and high-quality prosecution decisions in accordance with the Guidelines of the Director of Public Prosecutions
- directing the conduct and forensic strategy of prosecutions, including complex, contentious and indictable matters
- overseeing criminal prosecutions and civil penalty proceedings under Queensland's workplace and resources safety legislation
- providing authoritative advice to the Work Health and Safety Regulator and Resources Safety and Health Queensland
- maintaining consistent and effective approaches to legal advice, representation, disclosure and prosecution
- building constructive relationships with regulators, investigators,



government agencies, interstate jurisdictions and the legal profession
- improving the efficiency and timeliness of brief assessment and case progression without compromising the quality or independence of decision-making
- ensuring affected and injured workers, families and next of kin are treated with professionalism, compassion, respect and dignity
- developing the capability of the office and supporting a collaborative and psychologically healthy workplace
- monitoring and reporting on the office's performance, including preparing its annual report to the Minister
- overseeing the engagement of external legal providers and counsel for specialist, complex or significant matters.

You will be an accomplished prosecution lawyer with the judgement, integrity and skilled credibility required to lead an independent statutory prosecution function. Your experience may have been developed in workplace health and safety, resources safety or another regulatory prosecution environment.

You will bring:

- substantial experience conducting or directing complex criminal or regulatory prosecutions
- demonstrated prosecutorial judgement, including the assessment of evidence, reasonable prospects of conviction and public interest considerations
- strong forensic and legal strategy capability
- the confidence to make independent, ethical and appropriately courageous decisions
- an ability to build trusted relationships while maintaining clear professional and statutory boundaries
- strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with regulators, investigators, legal practitioners and other stakeholders
- resilience and an understanding of the impact that confronting and distressing matters can have on individuals and teams
- an inclusive and collaborative leadership style that develops people and supports consistent, high-quality outcomes.

Applications to remain current for 12 months.

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📌 Work Health and Safety Prosecutor (Brisbane)
🏢 Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor
📍 Brisbane