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From 13 February 2026, all class 1b and class 2 to class 9 buildings in New South Wales must have essential fire safety measures inspected and tested in accordance with AS 1851-2012. This means fire safety in NSW transforms into a definitive legal accountability for building owners.   This change represents a significant shift in...

For years, workplace safety in Victoria has centred almost entirely on physical risks, but that focus has now shifted decisively. With the release of Worksafe Victoria’s new Compliance Code for Psychological Health starting December 1, 2025, the mandate for employers is unequivocal: psychological health regulations in Victoria now require the same rigour and systematic management...

Victoria’s work environments are experiencing a significant transition in a positive way. Traditionally, safety conversations in workplaces predominantly focused on risks and injuries of a physical nature. However, in the new Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025, mental health is now regarded as equally important as physical safety. Every Victorian workplace should be...

The modern workplace is experiencing a significant and rapid shift because of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation. These tools can save time and effort, but without proper management, they can also create new kinds of risks. For the first time, Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws in NSW are making this official, guided by a...

Under the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Standalone Regulator) Act 2025, which started on 1 July 2025, there were substantial changes in New South Wales, where the law underpins how workplace health and safety (WHS) is applied to the whole of government. The act’s primary objective is to establish an independent regulator for work health...

Workplace safety is more than just a legal responsibility, it’s giving people your best effort to protect them, to prevent harm, and to build trust. Under Australia’s Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act, workplace incidents defined as “notifiable incidents” must be reported to your relevant regulator without delay.  What is Incident Notification? Under the...

In 2025, managing psychosocial hazards in the workplace will become a legal requirement for businesses (PCBUs). The Australian work health and safety (WHS) laws have formally recognised mental health risks as workplace hazards along with physical dangers. Under these changes, employers must now identify and control psychosocial hazards through structured processes and transparent leadership. These...

In a major development for workplace safety in New South Wales, the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Industrial Manslaughter) Act 2024 has now made industrial manslaughter a criminal offence under the state’s WHS laws. The legislation commenced on 16 September 2024 and represents a firm step forward to make sure that preventable workplace deaths are...

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) reported receiving 382 reports of suspected modern slavery in the 2023–24 financial year. In response, the Australian Government has taken critical steps to strengthen corporate accountability. The latest reforms to the Modern Slavery Act 2018, effective from late 2024, introduce stronger compliance mechanisms and a renewed focus on ethical supply...

The Australian Government has approved a national Work Health and Safety (Sexual and Gender-based Harassment) Code of Practice 2025, which has been implemented in conjunction with the Work Health and Safety (Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work) Code of Practice 2024 (the Codes). Keeping up with such changes is a must for PCBUs, which place a...