This August update summarises the legislation, regulations and codes flagged in our register across Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.
The August register includes updates across work health and safety, electrical safety, building regulation, education and care services, commercial fisheries, portable long service leave, major sports facilities, and mine-site road and traffic management.
At a glance
- Queensland (QLD) — 7 instruments. Key areas include WHS, electrical safety, building regulation, planning/building amendments, portable long service leave, major sports facilities and commercial fisheries.
- Victoria (VIC) — 2 instruments. Key areas include building practitioner obligations and education/care service compliance transparency.
- Western Australia (WA) — 1 instrument. Key area: road and traffic management at mine sites.
What this means for organisations
Organisations should review whether any of the instruments below affect their operations, licences, safety systems, worker screening, contractor management, reporting, training, service delivery or compliance evidence.
This month’s register is particularly relevant for organisations operating in:
- construction, building certification and building approvals;
- electrical work, electrical equipment, plant and infrastructure;
- mining, mobile plant and site traffic management;
- education and care services;
- contract cleaning and portable long service leave administration;
- sports venue and major event management;
- commercial fishing, quota management and vessel reporting; and
- WHS governance, consultation and duty-holder management.
Organisations should confirm commencement dates, check whether existing controls remain suitable, update procedures where needed, and retain evidence of compliance decisions for audit and assurance purposes.
Quick reference
| Legislation | State | Effective date | Summary of changes | Practical recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work Health and Safety Act 2011 | QLD | 02/08/2026 | Updates and clarifies WHS definitions, scope, duty-holder responsibilities, consultation requirements, codes of practice obligations and risk management expectations. It reinforces that duties are non-transferable and may apply concurrently to multiple parties. | Review WHS policies, risk management procedures, consultation arrangements and training materials. Ensure officers, managers, supervisors, designers, manufacturers, importers and installers understand their duties and evidence requirements. |
| Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 | QLD | 14/08/2026 | Introduces a detailed electrical safety framework covering electrical work, installations, equipment, licensing, risk assessments, safe work method statements, overhead/underground electrical risks, equipment classification and compliance evidence. | Conduct an electrical safety readiness audit, review licensing and registration requirements, update SWMS and maintenance procedures, and train relevant workers on new electrical safety duties. |
| Road and traffic management at Western Australian mines: Code of practice | WA | 04/08/2026 | Provides practical guidance for managing road and traffic risks at WA mine sites, including traffic management plans, mobile plant interaction, road design, signage, fatigue, emergency procedures and worker responsibilities. | Review and update mine traffic management plans, complete site-specific traffic risk assessments, check road design and signage controls, and train workers, contractors and visitors on traffic rules. |
| Building Amendment (Miscellaneous) Regulations 2026 | VIC | 25/08/2026 | Updates Victorian building regulation requirements, including building surveyor information statements, inspection record submission, council/VBA document access, communication methods, and registration/competence criteria for surveyors and inspectors. | Update building permit workflows, train building surveyors and council teams, implement tracking for Form 26 and inspection record deadlines, and review practitioner competence evidence. |
| Contract Cleaning Industry (Portable Long Service Leave) Act 2005 | QLD | 28/08/2026 | Clarifies employer and worker obligations under Queensland’s portable long service leave scheme for contract cleaning, including worker definitions, cleaning work exclusions, registration requirements, notification timeframes and service credit rules. | Update HR/payroll procedures, confirm worker classifications, ensure employer registration and change notifications occur within required timeframes, and maintain accurate service and wage records. |
| Major Sports Facilities Regulation 2026 | QLD | 28/08/2026 | Establishes operational rules for declared major sports facilities, including event limits, crowd size settings, transport and operational management plans, noise controls and public notification requirements. | Prepare event transport and operational management plans, implement noise monitoring, publish event notices within required timeframes, and document community/stakeholder engagement. |
| Building and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2026 | QLD | 14/08/2026 | Amends Queensland building and planning requirements, including changes to design and siting standards, relevant building classifications, Queensland Development Code references and transitional arrangements for local planning schemes. | Review local planning schemes, update guidance for builders, architects and planners, and ensure internal planning/building processes reflect amended classifications and transitional requirements. |
| Fisheries (Commercial Fisheries) Regulation 2019 | QLD | 02/09/2026 | Updates commercial fisheries controls covering licensing, quota and effort management, gear restrictions, vessel identification, reporting, area restrictions and compliance monitoring across Queensland fisheries. | Review licences, quota records, gear specifications, vessel tracking, logbook reporting and area restrictions. Provide updated guidance to fishers and strengthen monitoring for high-risk zones. |
| Education and Care Services National Law (Victorian Modifications) Regulations 2026 | VIC | 12/08/2026 | Introduces transparency and compliance-history display requirements for Victorian education and care services, including display of notices, directions, infringement notices, enforcement outcomes and rating information. | Audit compliance and enforcement records, prepare display protocols, assign responsibility for updates within required timeframes, and train staff on quality and compliance history obligations. |
| Building Regulation 2021 | QLD | 14/08/2026 | Updates Queensland building standards and administration, including accepted development, local government powers, smoke alarm requirements, pool safety, certification, competent person records, inspections, notices and fees. | Complete a building compliance audit, review inspection and certification processes, check smoke alarm and pool safety signage obligations, and maintain CPD and records for relevant personnel. |
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