Safe Work Australia published amendments to the model Work Health and Safety Regulations that tighten how asbestos is tested and how asbestos in soil is handled. At the same time, a national Asbestos Framework Review is considering bigger changes, including prioritised removal of asbestos from buildings.
The ban on asbestos work no longer applies to soil that a competent person has confirmed is free from visible asbestos-containing material or friable asbestos. The old wording about 'trace levels' has been removed.
What it means for you: If you are dealing with contaminated ground, you need a competent person to assess and document it before soil can be treated as clean.
Asbestos samples must be analysed by a laboratory accredited by NATA, or one approved by the regulator. References to older Safe Work Australia guidance have been removed.
What it means for you: Ask any assessor or removalist which laboratory analysed your sample, and check it is NATA-accredited. A result from anywhere else does not meet the regulations.
Amendments to the model WHS Regulations do not apply automatically. Each state and territory must enact them before they have legal force locally.
What it means for you: Timing differs by jurisdiction. Always confirm the current rule with your state regulator — we link to each one from the state pages.
Australia had one of the highest rates of asbestos use per person in the world, and today's disease burden is driven largely by renovation and maintenance work rather than mining. That is why the current reforms focus on accurate testing, competent assessment and, potentially, planned removal from older buildings.
Safe Work Australia's Asbestos Framework Review ran national consultation through 2026, with submissions from industry bodies covering prioritised removal of asbestos from public and commercial buildings, updated codes of practice and transitional arrangements. Nothing here is law yet — but if you own or manage an older building, planning removal now is cheaper than reacting to a deadline later.
General information only, not legal advice. Rules differ by state and territory — confirm with your local WHS regulator.
