Safe Work Australia has called for public comment on the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations package by 4 April 2011.

 

Safe Work Australia released draft model WHS Regulations, priority model Codes of Practice, an Issues Paper and Consultation Regulation Impact Statement for public comment in December 2010.

 

To date 234 submissions have been received from a range of organisations and individuals. These can be viewed on the Safe Work Australia website at http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/Legislation/PublicComment/Pages/PublicComment.aspx.

 

Safe Work Australia Chair, Mr Tom Phillips said that harmonised work health and safety laws will affect all Australians in varying degrees, and that broad input during the consultation process would ensure the new laws are relevant to all workers and workplaces.

 

Safe Work Australia will analyse the written submissions received during the public comment process and then revise the draft model WHS Regulations and Codes of Practice based on this analysis. The Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council is expected to approve model WHS Regulations package in June this year for commencement of the Commencement of the Model Work Health and Safety Act and model WHS Regulations at the beginning of 2012.

 

For more information on the public comment process visit www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au