Australia – Workplaces – Stronger WHS incident reporting and workers compensation reforms underway
The Australian Government has stated that it is working to adopt the model WHS amendments for serious psychological incidents in Commonwealth workplaces, as well as reforming the Comcare workers’ compensation scheme following a review. The scheme’s reforms would emphasise early support, focus on return to work, simplify the claims process and improve Comcare’s governance.
Read the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations media release here.
South Australia – Workplaces – Industrial relations bill introduced
The SA Government has introduced the Statutes Amendment (Industrial Relations Portfolio) (No 2) Bill 2026 to Parliament, which proposes to align the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 with national model laws, and other amendments regarding approved codes of practice and prohibited areas in ports under the Explosives Act 2024, among other things.
Australia – Rail – Work on national rail mutual recognition scheme underway
The National Transport Commission and Industry Skills Australia are working to establish national mutual recognition of workers’ skills and competencies in the rail sector. A five-step blueprint has been created and focus has turned to how it will work in practice, with the potential for industry codes or amendments to legislation.