The Hon Robert McDougall KC was commissioned by the NSW Government in October 2022 to carry out a review of SafeWork NSW to make recommendations in relation to the performance and effectiveness of SafeWork’s compliance and enforcement functions.
The Department of Customer Service has actively supported the independent review and will welcome its findings, as work continues to reform the work health and safety regulator through changes to structure and the way it responds to workplace incidents.
Media reports today have raised concerns detailed in submissions to the review from stakeholders, staff, unions and those impacted by workplace safety incidents in relation to responses to incidents, internal bullying of staff and issues relating to hospital safety.
The review’s final report is currently being considered by Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Costis, with the outcomes expected to address issues raised in submissions relating to SafeWork’s regulatory operations.
In October, Trent Curtin was appointed acting Deputy Secretary of SafeWork NSW to assist the government put in place new structure and governance arrangements as part of the response to the McDougall Review. This ensures SafeWork is a strong, robust and responsive WHS regulator which continually improves worker safety in NSW.
