ARTICLE · 25 JULY 2022

Changes To The Model Work Health And Safety Laws

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

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Last month, SafeWork Australia revealed a suite of significant changes to the Model Work Health and Safety Act, Regulations and Codes of Practice (Model Law).

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Last month, SafeWork Australia revealed a suite of significant changes to the Model Work Health and Safety Act, Regulations and Codes of Practice (Model Law).

The changes follow a number of recommendations that arose from Marie Boland's independent review of the content and operation of the Model Law (Boland Review) in 2018. In May 2021, Ministers responsible for work health and safety (WHS) from the Commonwealth and each state and territory, met to discuss the 'Decision Regulation Impact Statement', which was prepared by Safe Work Australia, in response to the recommendations that arose from the Boland Review.

The Ministers' agreed response to the Boland Review has resulted in 20 changes to the Model Law (with 14 more on the way), including the following:

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