Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth)
Further Information
For further information around general harmonisation, the Act and the regulations and codes of practice.On 11 December 2009, the Workplace Relations Ministers' Council endorsed the Model Work Health and Safety Act (Model WHS Act).
Submitted by Safe Work Australia and endorsed by Ministers, the Model WHS Act incorporated a number of amendments proposed as a result of consideration by Safe Work Australia, input from the Parliamentary Counsel's Committee and public comment.
The Model WHS Act went through a number of iterations in 2010 and early 2011 and was finalised on 23 June 2011. Versions are available on the Safe Work website.
Each jurisdiction then had the opportunity to contextualize the model WHS Act to allow for jurisdictional differences. Minor but necessary variations were required to achieve consistency with other laws and processes operating within a jurisdiction.
On 26 May 2011, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) called for comment on the Commonwealth specific provisions of the Commonwealth WHS Bill.
The Commonwealth WHS Bill was introduced into the House of Representatives on 6 July 2011 and referred for inquiry and report, by the Senate, on 7 July 2011.
The Commonwealth WHS Bill and Transitional and Consequential Provisions Bill passed the House of Representatives on 13 October 2011.
On 31 October, the Commonwealth WHS Bill and Transitional and Consequential Provisions Bill were introduced in the Senate.
The Commonwealth WHS Bill, Explanatory Memorandum and Transitional and Consequential Provisions Bill are available on the Parliament of Australia website.
The WHS Bill was presented to the senate on a number of occasions and on Thursday, 24 November 2011 the Work Health and Safety Bill 2011 and the Work Health and Safety (Transitional and Consequential) Bill 2011 were passed in the senate without amendment and received royal assent on the 29 November 2011 with an enactment date of 1 January 2012
View:- Work Health and Safety Act 2011(Cth)
- Work Health and Safety (Transitional and Consequential) Act 2011
Available on the Comlaw website: