Safe Work Australia Amendment (Role and Functions) Act 2017

No. 86, 2017

An Act to amend the Safe Work Australia Act 2008, and for related purposes

Contents

1 Short title 1

2 Commencement 2

3 Schedules 2

Schedule 1—Amendments 3

Part 1—Main amendments 3

Safe Work Australia Act 2008 3

Part 2—Consequential amendments 7

Safe Work Australia Act 2008 7

Safe Work Australia Amendment (Role and Functions) Act 2017

No. 86, 2017

An Act to amend the Safe Work Australia Act 2008, and for related purposes

[Assented to 16 August 2017]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:
1 Short title

This Act is the Safe Work Australia Amendment (Role and Functions) Act 2017.
2 Commencement 1

Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
Commencement information Commencement information Commencement information
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
Provisions Commencement Date/Details
1. The whole of this Act The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent. 17 August 2017

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.

 2

Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.
3 Schedules

Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.
Amendments

Safe Work Australia Act 2008

 1 Section 3

Omit:

This Act creates a body called Safe Work Australia to improve occupational health and safety outcomes and workers’ compensation arrangements in Australia.

substitute:

This Act creates a body called Safe Work Australia to improve work health and safety outcomes and workers’ compensation arrangements in Australia.

 2 Section 3

Omit:

It has various functions relating to occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation (see section 6). For example, one of its functions is to prepare model OHS legislation for adoption as a law of the Commonwealth, each of the States and each of the Territories.

The Ministerial Council (a body that consists of Ministers from the Commonwealth, States and Territories) has some oversight of Safe Work Australia’s activities. For example, the Council considers whether to approve the model OHS legislation that Safe Work Australia has prepared.

substitute:

It has various functions relating to work health and safety and workers’ compensation (see section 6). For example, one of its functions is to develop and evaluate a model WHS legislative framework.

The Ministers of the Commonwealth, the States and the Territories who are responsible for WHS (collectively known as the WHS Ministers) have some oversight of Safe Work Australia’s activities. For example, the WHS Ministers consider whether to approve the model WHS legislative framework developed by Safe Work Australia for adoption by the Commonwealth, the States and the Territories.

 3 Section 4

Repeal the following definitions:

 a

(a) definition of approved model OHS codes of practice;

 b

(b) definition of approved model OHS legislation;

 c

(c) definition of approved OHS compliance and enforcement policy;

 d

(d) definition of Ministerial Council;

 e

(e) definition of model OHS codes of practice;

 f

(f) definition of model OHS legislation.

 4 Section 4

Insert:

model WHS legislative framework means any model Act, model regulations or model codes of practice relating to WHS, as amended from time to time, developed by Safe Work Australia for adoption by the Commonwealth, the States and the Territories.

Note: The model WHS legislative framework is developed by Safe Work Australia for approval by the WHS Ministers (see item 2 of the table in section 6).

 5 Section 4 (definition of OHS)

Repeal the definition.

 6 Section 4

Insert:

WHS means work health and safety.

WHS Ministers means the Minister of the Commonwealth, and the Minister of each State and Territory, who is responsible, or principally responsible, for matters relating to WHS.

 7 After section 5

Insert:

 5A Object

The object of the establishment of Safe Work Australia is to improve national WHS outcomes and workers’ compensation arrangements by providing an inclusive tripartite forum for representatives of governments, workers and employers to:

 a

collaborate on national WHS and workers’ compensation matters; and

 b

lead the development of evidence-based national WHS and workers’ compensation policies and strategies; and

 c

promote consistency in WHS and workers’ compensation arrangements across Australia.

 8 Section 6 (table)

Repeal the table, substitute:

 9 Transitional provision—things done by, or in relation to, the Ministerial Council

Anything done by, or in relation to, the Ministerial Council under the Safe Work Australia Act 2008 before the commencement of this item has effect after that commencement as if the thing had been done by, or in relation to, the WHS Ministers.

Safe Work Australia Act 2008

 10 Subsection 11(2) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

Consultation of WHS Ministers

 11 Subsection 11(2)

Omit “Ministerial Council has”, substitute “WHS Ministers have”.

 12 Subsection 12(2) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

Consultation of WHS Ministers

 13 Subsection 12(2)

Omit “Ministerial Council has”, substitute “WHS Ministers have”.

 14 Section 26 (paragraph relating to Division 2)

Omit “Ministerial Council for approval. Once the Ministerial Council approves”, substitute “WHS Ministers for approval. Once the WHS Ministers approve”.

 15 Section 26 (paragraph relating to Division 3)

Omit “Ministerial Council for approval. Once the Ministerial Council approves”, substitute “WHS Ministers for approval. Once the WHS Ministers approve”.

 16 Section 26 (paragraph relating to Division 4)

Omit “Ministerial Council”, substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 17 Subsection 27(1)

Omit “Ministerial Council”, substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 18 Subsection 28(1) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

WHS Ministers to approve or refuse plan

 19 Subsection 28(1)

Omit “Ministerial Council, the Council”, substitute “WHS Ministers, the WHS Ministers”.

 20 Subsection 28(1) (note)

Repeal the note, substitute:

Note: The WHS Ministers give approvals or refusals by resolution of the WHS Ministers: see section 69.

 21 Subsection 28(2) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

WHS Ministers’ directions to alter plan

 22 Subsection 28(2)

Omit “Ministerial Council refuses to approve the draft plan, the Council”, substitute “WHS Ministers refuse to approve the draft plan, the WHS Ministers”.

 23 Subsection 28(2) (note)

Repeal the note, substitute:

Note: The WHS Ministers give directions by resolution of the WHS Ministers: see section 69.

 24 Subsection 28(4) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

CEO to comply with WHS Ministers’ directions

 25 Subsection 28(5) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

When WHS Ministers must approve plan

 26 Subsection 28(5)

Omit “Ministerial Council” (first occurring), substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 27 Paragraph 28(5)(a)

Omit “Council”, substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 28 Subsection 28(5)

Omit “Ministerial Council” (second occurring), substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 29 Subsection 28(5) (note)

Repeal the note, substitute:

Note: The WHS Ministers give approvals or refusals by resolution of the WHS Ministers: see section 69.

 30 Subsections 28(6) and (8) and 29(1)

Omit “Ministerial Council”, substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 31 Subsection 30(1) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

WHS Ministers to approve or refuse plan

 32 Subsection 30(1)

Omit “Ministerial Council, the Council”, substitute “WHS Ministers, the WHS Ministers”.

 33 Subsection 30(1) (note)

Repeal the note, substitute:

Note: The WHS Ministers give approvals or refusals by resolution of the WHS Ministers: see section 69.

 34 Subsection 30(2) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

WHS Ministers’ directions to alter plan

 35 Subsection 30(2)

Omit “Council refuses to approve the draft plan, the Council”, substitute “WHS Ministers refuse to approve the draft plan, the WHS Ministers”.

 36 Paragraph 30(2)(b)

Omit “Council”, substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 37 Subsection 30(2) (note)

Repeal the note, substitute:

Note: The WHS Ministers give directions by resolution of the WHS Ministers: see section 69.

 38 Subsection 30(4) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

CEO to comply with WHS Ministers’ directions

 39 Subsection 30(5) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

When WHS Ministers must approve plan

 40 Subsection 30(5)

Omit “Ministerial Council” (first, second and third occurring), substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 41 Subsection 30(5) (note)

Repeal the note, substitute:

Note: The WHS Ministers give approvals or refusals by resolution of the WHS Ministers: see section 69.

 42 Subsection 30(6)

Omit “Ministerial Council approves”, substitute “WHS Ministers approve”.

 43 Subsection 30(8)

Omit “Ministerial Council”, substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 44 Division 4 of Part 4 (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

 45 Section 31 (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

 31 WHS Ministers’ directions to alter corporate plan 46 Subsection 31(1) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

WHS Ministers’ directions

 47 Subsection 31(1)

Omit “Ministerial Council” (first occurring), substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 48 Paragraph 31(1)(b)

Omit “Council”, substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 49 Subsection 31(1) (note)

Repeal the note, substitute:

Note: The WHS Ministers give a direction by resolution of the WHS Ministers: see section 69.

 50 Subsection 31(3) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

CEO to comply with WHS Ministers’ directions

 51 Subsection 31(4) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

When WHS Ministers must approve alterations to plan

 52 Subsection 31(4)

Omit “Ministerial Council” (first, second and third occurring), substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 53 Subsection 31(4) (note)

Repeal the note, substitute:

Note: The WHS Ministers give approvals or refusals by resolution of the WHS Ministers: see section 69.

 54 Subsections 31(5) and (7)

Omit “Ministerial Council”, substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 55 Section 32 (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

 32 WHS Ministers’ directions to alter operational plan 56 Subsection 32(1) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

WHS Ministers’ directions

 57 Subsection 32(1)

Omit “Ministerial Council” (first occurring), substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 58 Paragraph 32(1)(b)

Omit “Council”, substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 59 Subsection 32(1) (note)

Repeal the note, substitute:

Note: The WHS Ministers give a direction by resolution of the WHS Ministers: see section 69.

 60 Subsection 32(3) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

CEO to comply with WHS Ministers’ directions

 61 Subsection 32(4) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

When WHS Ministers must approve alterations to plan

 62 Subsection 32(4)

Omit “Ministerial Council” (first, second and third occurring), substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 63 Subsection 32(4) (note)

Repeal the note, substitute:

Note: The WHS Ministers give approvals or refusals by resolution of the WHS Ministers: see section 69.

 64 Subsection 32(5)

Omit “Ministerial Council approves”, substitute “WHS Ministers approve”.

 65 Subsection 32(7)

Omit “Ministerial Council”, substitute “WHS Ministers”.

 66 Section 33 (paragraph relating to Division 2)

Omit “model OHS legislation or model OHS codes of practice”, substitute “model WHS legislative framework”.

 67 Subsections 37(3) and 38(2)

Omit “model OHS legislation or model OHS codes of practice”, substitute “model WHS legislative framework”.

 68 Subsection 42(2) (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

Decisions about model WHS legislative framework

 69 Subsection 42(2)

Omit “model OHS legislation or model OHS codes of practice”, substitute “model WHS legislative framework”.

 70 Section 69

Repeal the section, substitute:

 69 How WHS Ministers give directions etc.

The WHS Ministers are to give a direction, an approval or a refusal for the purposes of a provision of this Act by resolution of the WHS Ministers passed in accordance with the procedures determined by the WHS Ministers.

 71 Section 70

Omit “Ministerial Council”, substitute “WHS Ministers”.

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 31 May 2017

Senate on 10 August 2017]

(88/17)