Move to make SafeWork NSW "a regulator with teeth"

NSW has passed legislation to officially establish SafeWork NSW as a standalone regulator. The new structure is intended to ensure SafeWork NSW will become a fit-for-purpose, robust and strong work health and safety regulator.

A statement released by the NSW Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis, said that SafeWork NSW was hidden within the Department of Customer of Service under the former government and “was not able to fully fulfil the functions expected of the state’s work health and safety regulator”.

“The former government let down workers when it came to safety, and we are cleaning up their mess,” Cotsis said.

The new executive agency will be led by a SafeWork Commissioner, with recruitment currently underway. The agency will have clear authority to enforce compliance, promote best practices, and engage meaningfully with businesses, unions and workers across all industries in NSW.

An Advisory Council of experts — to provide advice to the NSW Minister for Work Health and Safety and SafeWork NSW on how it can support both workers and businesses in creating the safest possible workplaces — will also be a feature of the new standalone regulator. Representatives from employer organisations, unions, a WHS expert and injured workers will make up the advisory council.

“This Bill passing the Parliament is important for worker safety in NSW,” Cotsis said. “We are slowly turning things around at SafeWork NSW as we restore it to being a regulator with teeth.”

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