Australian WHS Legislative & Compliance Updates
KEEPING AUSTRALIAN WORKPLACES INFORMED
Know what's changing. Understand what it means for your workplace.
Australian WHS legislative updates can affect workplace requirements across Commonwealth, state and territory jurisdictions.
OSIAT monitors significant developments in WHS and OHS legislation, regulations, compliance codes, codes of practice and regulator guidance to help businesses identify changes that may affect their workplace — and their WHS training.
This resource provides a practical starting point for understanding what has changed, when it applies and what businesses may need to review.
Last Updated: 8 August 2026
Latest Australian WHS Legislative Updates
Significant Australian WHS and OHS developments that businesses should be aware of, including changes that may affect workplace training, induction, procedures and other safety information.
VICTORIA
Equal Opportunity Amendment (Work from Home) Bill 2026
Status: Bill before parliment – Assembly, second reading
Proposed commencement: 1st September 2026*
The Victorian Government has announced an intended commencement of 1 September 2026, with a delayed commencement of 1 July 2027 for workplaces with fewer than 15 employees. This remains subject to the Bill passing Parliament.
What Changed?
The Bill proposes to amend Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act 2010 to introduce a right for eligible employees to work from home for at least two days per week where reasonable. The proposed arrangements cover full-time, part-time and regular casual employees, with exclusions applying to some employees including those undertaking probation or formal training programs.
Training impact
Training and policy review recommended: Victorian employers should monitor the Bill’s progress and consider whether existing working-from-home policies, manager guidance, request and decision-making processes, WHS arrangements and related employee training may require review if the legislation passes.
AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL
New AI and Digital Technologies WHS Guidance
Status: New Safe Work Australia guidance published.
Published: 23 July 2026
What Changed?
Safe Work Australia has released new guidance on managing work health and safety risks associated with artificial intelligence and digital technologies. The guidance makes clear that AI and digital technologies can introduce or increase both physical and psychosocial risks, and these risks must be managed through the normal WHS risk management process.
Training impact
Training and policy review recommended: Businesses using or introducing AI and digital technologies should review relevant WHS risk assessments, consultation processes, policies, procedures and worker training. Safe Work Australia specifically identifies information, training, instruction and supervision as part of managing these risks.
AUSTRALIA - HEAVY VEHICLES
Amended Heavy Vehicle National Law Now in Effect
Status: In effect.
Commencement: 1 August 2026
What Changed?
Major amendments to the Heavy Vehicle National Law commenced on 1 August 2026. Changes include the introduction of the new Heavy Vehicle Accreditation scheme and Safety Management System requirements, revised audit arrangements, new Unfit to Drive provisions, changes to work diaries, and reforms affecting mass, dimension and loading requirements.
The NHVR has specifically urged operators, drivers and other parties in the supply chain to understand the changes and the actions they may need to take.
Training impact
Training and policy review recommended: Businesses using or introducing AI and digital technologies should review relevant WHS risk assessments, consultation processes, policies, procedures and worker training. Safe Work Australia specifically identifies information, training, instruction and supervision as part of managing these risks.
Queensland
High-Risk Plant Regulation Changes Now in Effect
Status: In effect.
Commencement: 13 March 2026
What Changed?
The Work Health and Safety (High Risk Plant) Amendment Regulation 2026 amended Queensland’s WHS Regulation in relation to high-risk plant. It prescribes certain plant at non-workplace premises as high-risk plant, clarifies registration exclusions for lifts in private residences, and makes technical amendments concerning major amusement parks, demolition licensing and respirable crystalline silica.
Importantly, WorkSafe Queensland says the changes do not introduce new types of high-risk plant and that existing duties for PCBUs managing or controlling this plant at workplaces remain unchanged.
Training impact
Review recommended where relevant: Businesses involved in the design, manufacture, import, supply, installation, management or control of affected plant should check whether their procedures and information remain consistent with the amended Regulation. Where the changes affect particular roles or responsibilities, relevant workers and supervisors should be informed.
South Australia
High-Risk Construction Work - Fall Height threshold changed
Status: In effect.
Commencement: 1 July 2026
What Changed?
South Australia’s definition of high-risk construction work has changed for construction work involving a risk of a person falling. The previous threshold of more than three metres has been reduced to more than two metres, bringing South Australia into line with the national model WHS Regulations and other jurisdictions.
Training impact
Training, SWMS and procedure review recommended: Construction businesses operating in South Australia should review whether work previously outside the high-risk construction work definition is now captured by the two-metre threshold. Relevant safe work method statements, risk assessments, procedures, supervisor information and worker training should be reviewed where affected.
New South Wales
New Duty to comply with WHS Codes of Practice
Status: In effect.
Commencement: 1 July 2026
What Changed?
Changes to the NSW Work Health and Safety Act introduced a new duty concerning approved Codes of Practice. From 1 July 2026, PCBUs are expected to comply with applicable Codes of Practice or use another method that provides an equivalent or higher standard of health and safety.
Training impact
Training, procedures and risk controls should be reviewed: NSW businesses should identify the Codes of Practice relevant to their operations and check that existing procedures, risk controls, inductions and training reflect the applicable standards. Where a business uses an alternative approach, it should be capable of providing an equivalent or higher level of health and safety.
This one has a particularly strong training connection, because simply having old training material that mentions an outdated process or control could become much more problematic when the relevant Code now establishes the expected minimum performance standard.
Previous WHS Updates
Browse earlier Australian WHS and OHS legislative, regulatory, code and guidance developments identified by OSIAT.
