The Morrison government is open to industrial manslaughter laws and more consistency between state offences punishing people for deaths at work.
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Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland, the ACT and the NT have introduced laws, while NSW added gross negligence to the worst offences.
Attorney-General Christian Porter, who is also industrial relations minister, said laws varied from state to state.
"As a minister, I'm not close minded to the concept of an industrial manslaughter offence," he told parliament on Thursday.
Mr Porter said the coronavirus pandemic had meant dealing with the issue was not a priority, but it is now on the agenda for a ministerial meeting early next year.
"My view is that some of the offences that have been instituted by states are better than others," he said.
"The offence structure in Western Australia is not a good optional model and there are better options and models there.
"But this is a matter that we would hope to resolve in terms of both harmonisation and a Commonwealth position in early 2021."
Australian Associated Press
