Welcome news for employers, consistent Occupational Health and Safety regulations across the state boundaries.

Businesses who operate across states will welcome the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) signing an inter-governmental agreement that aims to end inconsistent OHS laws by no later than December 2011.

COAG leaders specified that OHS harmonisation meant uniformity of the OHS legislative framework, which includes a model OHS Act, supported by model OHS regulations and codes of practice. These instruments currently differ between states and impose a heavy regulatory burden on employers.

In order to harmonise OHS laws, each State and Territory will enact their own laws to mirror the model OHS legislation and regulations.

If any Commonwealth, State or Territory Government wants to amend its legislation or introduce legislation which would affect the operation of the model OHS laws, it would have to submit a proposition to the Workplace Relations Ministers Council for consideration.

The WRMC will be responsible for making decisions about the model Act, regulations and codes of practice.

If you need more information about these changes just drop me a line.

Regards,

Lynn Cook