Bulletin

Safety Bulletin - July 2022

Australia – Various amendments made to model WHS laws following review

Safe Work Australia has published amendments to the model WHS Act and Regulations, which have been made to enact recommendations made by the 2018 Boland review. Changes include Regulations to address psychosocial risks, including gross negligence as a factor in Category 1 offences, records and training improvements for amusement devices and passenger ropeways, health and safety representative training, prohibiting insurance for WHS penalties and clarifying that compliance with Australian Standards is not mandatory unless specified. Each jurisdiction is yet to adopt the amendments into their state or territory legislation.

Find the amendments on safe work Australia’s website..

 


Queensland – Industrial relations amendments proposed

The QLD Government has introduced amendments to the Industrial Relations Act 2016 following a review of the legislation. If passed, sexual harassment and sex-based harassment will be considered misconduct where an employee can be dismissed without notice, sexual harassment and sex-based harassment will be industrial matters that permit the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to exercise its powers, and the definitions of sexual harassment and discrimination will be aligned with the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991.

View the Queensland government’s media release.

 


New South Wales – New WHS mine and petroleum sites regulations proposed

The NSW Government is remaking the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2014 and is seeking public feedback on the Draft Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulations 2022. A Regulatory Impact Statement providing further details on the new regulations has also been released. Comments close 8 July 2022.

Read the NSW government’s proposed changes.