Australia – Construction – Commonwealth construction standards proposed – Open for comment
The Australian Government has proposed creating Commonwealth standards for the construction industry and has released a discussion paper. Public feedback is sought on a range of discussion questions, such as how to improve dispute resolution pathways and how any standards could work with existing WHS and workplace relations frameworks.
Read the media release here and have your say here before comments close.
Comments close 16 October 2026.
Australia – Heavy vehicles -Heavy vehicle projects continuing
The Steering Committee for the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) Reform Implementation has published an update on various heavy vehicle projects. Following the HVNL reform commencements, a forward work program has been proposed for regular maintenance. Non-legislative reforms have been progressing including a range of Performance Based Standards scheme actions and extending driver health screening tests to include sleep apnoea, cardio-vascular and diabetes in the next Assessing Fitness to Drive Guidelines edition. The Steering Committee is being stood down and further work will be overseen by the Infrastructure and Transport Senior Officer’s Committee.
Australia – Workplaces – Report for closing loopholes review published
The Australian Government has published the final report of the Closing Loopholes Review. The report makes 51 recommendations, including establishing a framework to determine the industrial manslaughter offence’s impact on deterrence and safety culture, indexing the industrial manslaughter penalty amount, reviewing the Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations, training HSRs and their assistants in their responsibilities, training PCBUs in their obligations and rights relating to HSR assistants, and undertaking another review of the right to disconnect in 2 to 3 years.