Safety Bulletin – October 2025

Australia – WHS – Review of WHS model laws underway

Safe Work Australia has opened consultation on its best practice review of the model WHS Act and Regulations and has published a discussion paper and table of previous review recommendations. Public comment is sought on how to maintain national harmonisation and to revisit recommendations from previous reviews that were not implemented.

Comments close 3 November 2025.

View Safe Work Australia’s consultation hub page here

View Safe Work Australia’s media release here.

Queensland – Dust disease – Dust lung disease register transitioned to national registry

The QLD Government has commenced legislation that transitions QLD’s Notifiable Dust Lung Disease Register to the National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry. Medical practitioners must now report pneumoconiosis, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to the National Registry, where the disease is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by occupational exposure to inorganic dust.

View the Queensland Government’s Notifiable Dust Lung Disease Register webpage

Australia – Workplaces – National safe work month begins

National Safe Work Month has commenced, with state and territory safety regulators organising events throughout October to raise awareness of work health and safety issues, and to engage workplaces in effective management practices.

View Safe Work Australia’s National Safe Work Month 2025 webpage