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Important: From 1 January 2012, information on this website is being reviewed and must be read in conjunction with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

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Have your say on the proposed national OHS laws

Safe Work Australia (SWA) is currently developing national model occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation to be implemented in all Australian jurisdictions in 2011.

Harmonised OHS laws will provide a number of benefits including:

uniform, equitable and effective safety standards and protections for all Australian workers
reduced compliance and regulatory burdens for employers with operations in more than one jurisdiction, and
greater efficiencies for governments in the provision of OHS regulatory and support services.

A draft of the model legislation is now available for public comment closing 9 November 2009. This is an opportunity to actively participate and voice your opinion on the development of new model OHS legislation.

For more information and a copy of the draft model legislation visit the SWA website www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au.

For more information visit the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland website www.worksafe.qld.gov.au.

Indicative national OHS laws timetable

Stage 1
September 2009	Stage One: model regulations associated with core functions, obligations or powers, arising from the recommendations from the national review released for public comment.
November/December 2009	Model OHS legislation submitted to Workplace Relations Ministers Council (WRMC) for agreement. Draft model OHS regulations developed and progressively submitted to WRMC for decision.
Stage 2
Progressively from late 2009	Model regulations on matters addressed in existing national OHS standards.
Stage 3
Progressively from late 2009	Model regulations on matters currently included in regulations in two thirds, or more, of the jurisdictions.
Stage 4
Early 2010	Model regulations on matters currently included in regulations in one or several jurisdictions.
Stage 5
Progressively from late 2010	Development of model Codes of Practice.
Stage 6
December 2011	All jurisdictions have implemented the model OHS Act and regulations.

Safe Work Australia Week | Building the Education Revolution (BER)

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