This Member Advice provides important information about:

• Legislative changes:
  • Queensland: amendments to the WHS Act, introduced into parliament and passed on the same day.
  • Victoria: changes to Major Hazard Facility obligations related to paraquat dichloride.
  • Engineered stone ban – exemption (in some jurisdictions) related to reinstallation of stone benchtops, slabs and panels which have been removed to enable repairs, implemented in some jurisdictions.
  • Engineered stone benchtops, slabs and panels – ban on importation.
• Silica National Strategic Plan has been approved by WHS Ministers
• State/territory information related to compliance activities:
  • Queensland worker consultation, representation and participation strategy 2024-2027.
  • NSW awareness campaign to increase compliance with obligations to declare actual wages at the end of a workers’ compensation policy year.
• Draft document, inquiries and public comment:
  • Safe Work Australia
    • consultation on proposed amendment of 9 workplace exposure limits – closes 15 December 2024 – amendments to consultation paper.
    • public comment on the workplace exposure standard for aluminium welding fumes.
    • targeted consultation in relation to health monitoring and air monitoring for hazardous chemicals and biological hazards.
  • Report of the Senate’s Select Committee on adopting artificial intelligence, including implications for WHS.
• Publications and resources of interest.
• Opportunities to engage in policy discussions that are not public comment processes, with a list of active discussions.