New work health and safety laws commenced in New South Wales, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory on 1 January 2012.
In July 2008, the Council of Australia Governments formally committed to the harmonisation of work health and safety laws by signing an Intergovernmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform in Occupational Health and Safety (IGA).
The model work health and safety legislation consists of an integrated package of a model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act, supported by model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations, model Codes of Practice and a National Compliance and Enforcement Policy.
Safe Work Australia is the national policy body responsible for the development and evaluation of the model Work Health and Safety laws. The Commonwealth, states and territories are responsible for regulating and enforcing work health and safety laws in their jurisdictions.
Under the IGA, all jurisdictions have committed to adopting the model work health and safety legislation, with minor variations as necessary to ensure it is consistent with relevant drafting protocols and to achieve consistency with other laws and processes operating within the jurisdiction.
Below is a table showing each jurisdiction’s progress in implementing the new laws. Where a jurisdiction has already enacted the WHS Act and the WHS Regulations the links provided will take you to these documents.
Jurisdictional progress on the model work health and safety laws
The development of the model WHS Act, the model WHS Regulations, 11 model Codes of Practice and the National Compliance and Enforcement Policy is complete. Work is continuing to develop further model Codes of Practice and guidance material to support the model laws.
Each state and territory work health and safety authority has developed resources to assist their jurisdiction with the transition. See contact details for state and territory work health and safety authorities.
Further information
For more information see the model work health and safety laws factsheet.
Model Work Health and Safety Act
Model Work Health and Safety Regulations
Model Codes of Practice
National Compliance and Enforcement Policy
Work health and safety guidance material
Major Hazard Facilities guides
Transitional arrangements
Decision Regulation Impact Statements
Harmonisation – background
Frequently asked questions