From 1 July 2026, section 26A of the NSW Work Health and Safety Act 2011 will commence. The new provision means that where an approved Code of Practice exists, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must either: Comply with the Code of Practice; or Demonstrate that an alternative approach provides an equivalent or higher standard of health and safety. This represents a significant shift in how organisations may need to demonstrate compliance during regulatory in

Safe Work Australia has published amendments to the Model WHS Laws, introducing new incident notification duties, crane licensing changes and updates to PPE and compliance requirements. These amendments set the national benchmark, but adoption will vary by state and territory, so businesses must check their local regulator.

Organisations that engage volunteers must ensure their health and safety under Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws.