Safe Work Australia is undertaking a best practice review of the model WHS Act and model WHS Regulations to identify opportunities to strengthen and maintain harmonisation of WHS laws and ensure the laws reflect contemporary best practice.
About the review
In September 2024, WHS ministers asked Safe Work Australia to undertake the best practice review to ensure the model WHS laws provide the highest level of protection for workers.
The best practice review will examine Australia’s WHS laws, assess jurisdictional deviations from the model WHS legal framework, and consider relevant reviews and inquiries to develop recommendations on:
whether the model WHS Act and model WHS Regulations incorporate a best practice approach that achieves the object of the model Work Health & Safety Act 2011 (s3), and
processes to maintain and strengthen harmonisation.
WHS ministers have now agreed to the review’s Terms of Reference, which are provided in the ‘background documents’ section above.
Register to have your say
A discussion paper outlining key issues and consultation questions will be available on this page from 1 September 2025.
Register your details below to be notified about the discussion paper and further opportunities to contribute to the best practice review.