Commonwealth WHS Bill
The comment period on the Commonwealth specific provisions of the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety (WHS) Bill, implemented in the Commonwealth jurisdiction on 1 January 2012 has now closed.
The model WHS Act has been subject to extensive consultation. It is the result of a comprehensive national review into work health and safety laws across Australia and was released for public comment for six weeks in September 2009.
The specific provisions are highlighted in the exposure draft, available at Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Bill.
Currently, each jurisdiction (including the Commonwealth) is in the process of enacting legislation. The intention is to have mirror laws enacted in each jurisdiction. Minor but necessary variations may be required to achieve consistency with other laws and processes operating within a jurisdiction.
The implemented uniform laws will comprise of a model Act, supported by model Regulations and model Codes of Practice and complemented by a nationally consistent approach to compliance and enforcement policy.
Background
In July 2008, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform in Occupational Health and Safety (IGA). This Agreement enabled the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to make a formal commitment to harmonise OHS arrangements.
The Workplace Relations Ministers' Council (WRMC) endorsed in December 2009 the model WHS Act—subject to any further agreed technical and drafting amendments between the Parliamentary Counsel's Committee and Safe Work Australia.
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