Consultation RIS – Recommendations of the 2018 Review of the model WHS laws

Consultation concluded 5 August 2019

Safe Work Australia invites your feedback on the recommendations of the 2018 Review of the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws (the 2018 Review).

The 2018 Review found the model WHS laws are largely operating as intended, but identified some areas where stakeholders are experiencing confusion or consider the laws are overly complex. The 2018 Review report makes 34 recommendations to address these problems.

A Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared seeking feedback on the impacts of implementing the recommendations and proposed alternative options for addressing the problems identified in the 2018 Review.

Submissions can be uploaded on this page until 11.59 pm (AEST) on Monday 5 August 2019.

Your views and supporting evidence on the anticipated impacts will be used to prepare a Decision RIS evaluating the costs and benefits of implementing the 2018 Review recommendations. The Decision RIS will be provided to WHS ministers to assist them to decide whether the Review recommendations should be implemented, and if so, how.

Safe Work Australia invites your feedback on the recommendations of the 2018 Review of the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws (the 2018 Review).

The 2018 Review found the model WHS laws are largely operating as intended, but identified some areas where stakeholders are experiencing confusion or consider the laws are overly complex. The 2018 Review report makes 34 recommendations to address these problems.

A Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared seeking feedback on the impacts of implementing the recommendations and proposed alternative options for addressing the problems identified in the 2018 Review.

Submissions can be uploaded on this page until 11.59 pm (AEST) on Monday 5 August 2019.

Your views and supporting evidence on the anticipated impacts will be used to prepare a Decision RIS evaluating the costs and benefits of implementing the 2018 Review recommendations. The Decision RIS will be provided to WHS ministers to assist them to decide whether the Review recommendations should be implemented, and if so, how.

Consultation concluded 5 August 2019

If you have a question not covered in the frequently asked questions, ask it here!

If you want to comment on the options in the Consultation RIS, please click on ‘Submission form’ and upload your comments using the Submission template.

  • Is there an expected release date of the Model/Draft Chapter 10 of the regulations pertaining to WHS is mining within Western Australia

    rmc asked over 4 years ago

    Thanks for your question.  We have received a number of questions about health and safety laws in Western Australia.  Western Australia has not implemented the model WHS laws. The Western Australian government are currently running a separate process to modernise their health and safety laws, based on the model WHS laws.  More information about modernisation of the health and safety laws in Western Australia can be found on the Western Australian Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety website.  

    Mining is covered by the general model WHS regulations, but there are no core provisions specific to mining because the necessary consensus to include the draft Mines Regulations in the model WHS laws was not achieved.  The states and territories are each responsible for their own WHS regulatory framework for mining.  The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety website contains more information about the WHS mining framework in Western Australia.  The 2018 Review did not make any recommendations in relation to core mining regulations in the model WHS laws, so this issue is not covered in the Consultation RIS.


  • Can we change our publication choice for our submission after completing the initial survey?

    Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency asked over 4 years ago

    Thank you for your question. We will do our best to accommodate a change in your publication choice after completing the initial survey. However, if you change your mind, you need to tell us as soon as possible. If you have initially chosen for your submission to be published, we may publish your submission at any time after the consultation period has closed, unless you advise us otherwise before we publish it. Please note, once the Decision RIS is finalised, we will be unable to make any changes including to referenced material from submissions. Please email 2018Review@swa.gov.au as soon as possible if you wish to change your publication choice.


  • Is the a approximate time of expected implementation.

    rmc asked over 4 years ago

    Once the options with the greatest net benefit are identified, an indication of priority or timing for implementation of the each option will be included in the Decision RIS for Ministers’ consideration.  The timeframe for implementing an option will depend on its complexity and the priority given to its implementation. The timeline for providing the Decision RIS to WHS ministers is in our FAQs.