Increased WHS Act monetary penalties for 2026–27

Effective from 1 July 2026, the new maximum penalties for a body corporate across the three main offence categories are:

• Category 1: $17.72 million (up from $17.03 million)
• Category 2: $2.47 million (up from $2.32 million)
• Category 3: $827,000 (up from $776,000)

Monetary penalties under the WHS Act are indexed annually to the Consumer Price Index for the March quarter. Indexation has resulted in increased penalties each year since the process commenced in 2024.

More information

• Work Health and Safety (Public Notification of Indexed Penalty Amounts) Notifiable Instrument 2026 – Federal Register of Legislation
• Regulatory guide – Prosecutions