Harmonising Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws across the country is top of the agenda for Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth.
The Minister, who welcomed delegates to the National Employers Work Health and Safety (NEWHS) Summit jointly hosted by Australian Industry Group and Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) in Sydney this week, outlined the Government's key priorities in the WHS portfolio.
Tasking Safe Work Australia (SWA) to conduct a Best Practice Review and reviewing the legislation underpinning the Comcare workers’ compensation scheme to ensure it remains fit for purpose are other priorities.
“Over a decade ago, governments across the nation signed up to the ambitious goal of harmonising WHS laws,” Ms Rishworth said.
“The work undertaken since has produced many benefits for workers and employers across the country, but the policy area of Work Health and Safety never stands still.
“Different jurisdictions have made changes over time that can diverge.
“I am resolved to advancing harmonisation while ensuring we continue to make workplaces as safe as they can be.”
“Last September, ministers responsible for Work Health and Safety asked Safe Work Australia to conduct a Best Practice Review,” Ms Rishworth said.
“The review will be about capturing what is working and genuinely pursuing best practice becoming the norm.
“It will be vital that those with real world experience provide their thoughts and observations.”
During the Summit, SWA’s Legal & Framework Policy Branch Manager Nathan Lee sought views from delegates to inform the Review.
Ms Rishworth said it was vital “we continue to be ambitious and collectively pursue best practice in a harmonised way”.
About half a million employees, of which about 60% work in the private sector, are covered by a workers’ compensation scheme run by Comcare, the national authority for Work Health and Safety and workers’ compensation.
“During the last term, we appointed an independent panel to review the (relevant) Act and make recommendations to modernise the legislation,” Ms Rishworth said.
“The panel has been asked to consider how the scheme can respond to current and future workplace challenges.
“These include the steep rise in psychological injuries and illness, an ageing workforce and changes to working arrangements.
“The panel has undertaken extensive consultation to understand the experience of injured workers and other scheme stakeholders and will deliver its recommendations to Government in September.
“I will carefully consider these findings with a view to ensuring an effective person-focused scheme that is sustainable and future-proofed for years to come as workplaces and society in general continue to evolve.”
“I am eager to work closely with other governments, regulators and agencies to improve the way we communicate WHS obligations across industry,” Ms Rishworth said.
“We need to make new efforts to translate the complexity of policy into more digestible and practical measures that people can take into their workplaces, understand and implement.
“By doing so, we can foster greater understanding, boost compliance and achieve better outcomes for everyone.”
“When we make workplaces safer, we cut down the risk of injuries, illness and even fatalities,” Ms Rishworth said.
“When people feel safe at work, they’re more productive. We see better wages and benefit from a higher standard of living.
“Every single community has a stake in making sure workplaces are safe, because when something does go wrong at work, it doesn’t just affect the worker, it ripples out to their friends, families and the wider community.”
In the past year, Australia’s national work-related injury rate was 3.5%, roughly a third of the global rate of 12.1%.
“That’s a fantastic result, but no statistic can ease the pain for someone who’s been impacted by a workplace injury or worse,” Ms Rishworth said.
“We can and we must do better.”
The annual NEWHS Summit, in its second year, gives WHS leaders the opportunity to directly engage with key figures from government agencies and regulators and contribute to WHS policy development.
This year’s event, chaired by Australian Industry Group’s Tracey Browne and ACCI’s Rebecca Sostarko (pictured with Ms Rishworth in main photo), incorporated presentations, panel discussions and workshops on a range of current and emerging issues impacting WHS including:
Ms Rishworth paid tribute to Ms Browne, Ms Sostarko and their teams for bringing the Summit to fruition.
At the conclusion of the Summit, Ms Browne praised delegates for their enthusiasm and engagement with presenters, panellists and each other.
Australian Industry Group and ACCI are the employer members of Safe Work Australia.
Visit our event gallery to view more photos of the 2025 National Employers Work Health and Safety (NEWHS) Summit.
Wendy Larter is Communications Manager at Australian Industry Group.
A former journalist for newspapers and magazines including The Courier-Mail in Brisbane and Metro, the News of the World, The Times and Elle in the UK, she is passionate about giving businesses a voice.
