Safe Work Australia

Legislation to establish Safe Work Australia, the replacement body for the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC), was introduced into parliament at the end of last week.

Ending almost a year of speculation after the Rudd government's promise in the last election to scuttle the ASCC, Safe Work Australia is the new national, independent body to lead and improve OHS and workers compensation arrangements in Australia.

The independent statutory authority will have an initial budget of approximately $17 million. It will have an independent chair and will comprise representatives of the Commonwealth, each state and territory, employers and unions.

One of Safe Work Australia’s key functions will be to develop model OHS legislation for adoption by all jurisdictions, aiding in the move to harmonise OHS laws in Australia.