On 5 December 2025, Safe Work Australia published amendments to the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws. As someone who works closely with businesses across multiple industries, I wanted to share what these changes mean and why they are worth paying attention to now.

While these amendments are not yet law, they give us a clear indication of where WHS regulation is heading. Each state and territory will need to formally adopt the changes before they become enforceable, and at this stage there is no confirmed timeframe for that to happen.

Even so, understanding what is coming allows businesses to prepare rather than react.

Why These Changes Matter

Through my work with Safety365, I regularly see how incident management systems operate in the real world. Some businesses have strong, structured processes in place. Others rely heavily on informal reporting and ad hoc escalation.

These amendments place greater expectations on organisations to identify, document, and report serious incidents properly. Once adopted, they will require a higher level of consistency, accountability, and leadership involvement in safety management.

What This Could Mean for Your Business

If these changes are introduced in your state or territory, you may need to:

  • Review your incident reporting processes
  • Strengthen escalation pathways for serious events
  • Provide additional training to supervisors and managers
  • Review psychological health and safety frameworks
  • Improve communication with contractors and subcontractors

In my experience, businesses that already treat WHS as a system rather than a set of forms will adapt more easily. Those relying on informal processes may need to make more significant changes.

Expanded Notifiable Incidents

One of the biggest shifts is the expansion of what must be reported to regulators. Proposed additions include:

  • Dangerous incidents involving mobile plant
  • Falls from height
  • Violent incidents, including sexual assault
  • Work-related suicide and attempted suicide
  • Worker absences of 15 or more calendar days

This reflects a growing recognition that WHS is not just about physical injuries. Psychological harm, violence, and serious risk events are now firmly on the regulatory radar. I see this as a positive step toward more realistic safety management.

Asbestos and Crane Licensing Updates

The amendments also propose changes to:

  • Working with asbestos
  • High-risk work licensing, including crane operations

These are areas where I regularly see compliance gaps, particularly in construction and infrastructure environments. The intention is to strengthen competency standards and reduce exposure to high-risk activities.

Important Reminder

It is critical to understand that these are model laws only.

They do not automatically apply. Each state and territory must pass them into local legislation first. At this point:

  • No jurisdiction has formally adopted the changes
  • There is no confirmed implementation timeline
  • Existing WHS laws still apply

My advice is to monitor updates from your local regulator rather than rushing into changes prematurely.

What You Can Do Now

Even though these amendments are not law yet, now is a good time to review:

  • Incident notification procedures
  • Internal escalation processes
  • WHS training and induction content
  • Psychological health policies
  • Contractor communication frameworks

This type of proactive review often highlights gaps long before regulators do.

Stay Informed

These amendments reflect a broader shift in how workplace risk is defined and managed in Australia. Staying informed gives you time to plan and avoids last-minute compliance pressure.

You can read Safe Work Australia’s official announcement here: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/media-centre/news/amendments-model-whs-laws-published

How prepared is your organisation for these changes?

From what I see every day, businesses that start these conversations early are always better positioned when regulation shifts. Whether you are reviewing systems internally or seeking external guidance, early preparation makes a real difference.