ARTICLE · 17 JANUARY 2012

Work Health Safety Act 2011 (Cth) commences on 1 January 2012

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The states and territories are in varying states of readiness for the commencement of the new harmonised OHS law.

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The states and territories are in varying states of readiness for new OHS laws, with the Queensland Work Health and Safety Act 2011 having commenced on 1 January 2012. Mirror legislation commenced in the Commonwealth, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and the Northern Territory jurisdictions at the same time. South Australia recently voted to defer debate until February this year. The Tasmanian Legislative Council voted to delay the commencement of the harmonised laws until January 2013. Victoria and Western have not yet introduced the mirror Work Health and Safety Bill to Parliament, and are unlikely to enact a harmonised Act for at least another year.

Some of the significant changes made by the Work Health Safety Act 2011 include:

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