In common with most of Europe and North America, Australian State Parliaments have responded to the problem of workplace illness, injury, and death by enacting legislation regulating workplace hazards. Until the 1970s and 80s, these standards were generally detailed and technical, focusing mainly on prescriptive measures such as specifying machinery guarding measures to be adopted to prevent injury to workers operating dangerous machinery. Beginning in 2008, state and federal regulations were harmonised, giving greater clarity and consistency in the legislation in effect in the various states. WHS harmonisation The process of harmonization commenced in July 2008 when the Australian Commonwealth, state and territory governments signed an intergovernmental agreement to agree to harmonise health and safety laws across Australia. That process resulted in a National review with over 232 recommendations submitted to workplace relations ministerial council members for approval. Following on from the review and recommendations being endorsed by ministers the National model Work Health and Safety Act was drafted and sent out for public comment in late 2009. Ministers endorsed that Act in December 2009. Following on from that process has been the development of the model regulations and codes of practice. Their intergovernmental agreement (IGA) requires each jurisdiction to implement the moral legislation as mirror laws in their jurisdiction by the first of January 2012. Essentially this means section 16 of the Queensland act should be the same as the section 16 of the Victorian act or in New South Wales. Implementation Dates : State/Territory Date Implemented Queensland 1 January 2012 New South Wales 1 January 2012 Tasmania 1 January 2013 Northern Territory 1 January 2012 Australian Capital Territory 1 January 2012 South Australia 1 January 2013 Victoria Not Implemented Western Australia Not Implemented Benefits of harmonised law The process provides legislative clarity for all stakeholders . Businesses gain an improved understanding of health and safety law regardless of the state they operate in and compliance costs are lower as there are fewer differing requirements, less training needs and a reduced requirement for local subject matter experts. Governments benefit from reduced expenditure for developing health and safety law.
In common with most of Europe and North America, Australian State Parliaments have responded to workplace illness, injury, and death by enacting legislation regulating workplace hazards. Until the 1970s and 80s, these standards were generally detailed and technical, focusing mainly on prescriptive measures such as specifying machinery guarding measures to be adopted to prevent injury to workers operating dangerous machinery. Beginning in 2008, state and federal regulations were harmonised, giving greater clarity and consistency in the legislation in effect in the various states. WHS harmonisation The process of harmonization commenced in July 2008 when the Australian Commonwealth, state and territory governments signed an intergovernmental agreement to agree to harmonise health and safety laws across Australia. That process resulted in a National review with over 232 recommendations submitted to workplace relations ministerial council members for approval. Following on from the review and recommendations being endorsed by ministers the National model Work Health and Safety Act was drafted and sent out for public comment in late 2009. Ministers endorsed that Act in December 2009. Following that process was the development of the model regulations and codes of practice. Their intergovernmental agreement (IGA) requires each jurisdiction to implement the moral legislation as mirror laws in their jurisdiction by the first of January 2012. Essentially this means section 16 of the Queensland act should be the same as the section 16 of the Victorian act or in New South Wales. Implementation dates in different territories were : State/Territory Date Implemented Queensland 1 January 2012 New South Wales 1 January 2012 Tasmania 1 January 2013 Northern Territory 1 January 2012 Australian Capital Territory 1 January 2012 South Australia 1 January 2013 Victoria Not Implemented Western Australia Not Implemented The process provides legislative clarity for all stakeholders , giving businesses a clearer understanding of health and safety law regardless of the state they operate in . Compliance costs are lower as there are fewer differing requirements, less training needs and a reduced requirement for local subject matter experts. Governments also benefit from the reduced cost of developing health and safety law.
D
the problem of
R
on from that process has been
that process was
R
Dates
dates in different territories were
D
Benefits of harmonised law
D
.
R
Businesses gain an improved
, giving businesses a clearer
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and compliance
. Compliance
R
Governments benefit from reduced expenditure for
Governments also benefit from the reduced cost of