Retired judge to lead NSW SafeWork review

Retired Judge to Lead NSW SafeWork Review

Retired NSW Supreme Court judge Robert McDougall KC will lead an independent review of SafeWork NSW, the state's workplace health and safety regulator. Former Justice Robert McDougall brings decades of legal expertise to examine how the agency operates across the industry.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello confirmed the retired Supreme Court judge Hon. Robert McDougall KC will assess both operations and culture within SafeWork NSW as part of this review.

Why This Review Matters for the Safety Industry

"NSW Parliament passed legislation in 2015 to abolish WorkCover and replace it with iCare, SIRA and SafeWork NSW as three separate entities," Mr Dominello said.

"SafeWork NSW is the only one of those three entities that has not been independently reviewed since the reforms. For that reason, a review of the operations of SafeWork NSW is now appropriate."

This move signals the government's commitment to strengthening safety oversight across NSW industry sectors, particularly for organisations working in hazardous environments where health outcomes depend on robust regulatory frameworks.

Supporting the Review Process

Department of Customer Service Deputy Secretary and Head of SafeWork NSW Natasha Mann promised to support the review, noting the retired Supreme Court judge Robert McDougall will carry out the assessment with full access to agency resources and staff.

The review comes at a time when industry stakeholders across Australia are watching closely how state-based safety regulators adapt their policy frameworks to address emerging risks, including hazardous exposure incidents documented in recent SafeWork SA lead exposure initiatives.

What This Means for Businesses

Organisations working within construction, manufacturing and healthcare sectors should monitor this review closely, since any resulting policy changes could reshape compliance expectations across NSW industry more broadly.

Businesses managing hazardous work environments may benefit from reviewing existing safety documentation now, including resources such as Working with Lead SWMS and Cleaning Without Adequate Ventilation SafeWork Method Statement, to ensure alignment with current regulatory standards ahead of any updates stemming from this review.

Companies should also revisit internal governance tools like a Management Review Policy to maintain readiness for shifts in oversight practices.

Staying Informed

SafetyDocs will continue reporting news on this review as findings emerge, alongside broader news coverage of regulatory changes affecting SafeWork NSW enforceable undertaking guidelines and other compliance news relevant to safety professionals nationwide.

For more information, go to the SafeWork NSW website.