Manufacturing compliance obligations in South Australia: 1–5 employees
Computed by the Rules Mate applicability engine for a Pty Ltd company with 1–5 employees, turnover $100K–$1M, in manufacturing, operating in South Australia and selling to consumers and small businesses.
Short answer: 46 obligations
46 obligations apply (20 critical) across 23 regulators, plus 28 to check. Risk rating: medium. No licensed regime, but you employ staff (WHS, Fair Work, super and payroll duties); 20 critical obligations apply.
What changes at 1–5 employees
Compared with a manufacturing business with no employees in South Australia, 19 obligations apply that did not.
- Applies: Pay superannuation on every payday (Payday Super)
- Applies: Pay employees in accordance with the applicable modern award
- Applies: Manage psychosocial hazards at work
- Applies: Take reasonable and proportionate measures to prevent sex discrimination, sexual
- Applies: Withhold PAYG from employee and contractor payments
- Applies: Provide 10 days paid family + domestic violence leave (FDV)
- Applies: Document VEVO checks + retain employer records (s 245AYL Migration Act)
- Applies: Casual employment definition + conversion (Closing Loopholes 2024)
- Applies: Report under Single Touch Payroll Phase 2
- Applies: Honour employees' right to disconnect (s 333M)
What switches on at 6–19 employees
Nothing new switches on for a Pty Ltd company with 6–19 employees, turnover $1M–$3M.
South Australia law that applies
2 South Australia obligations apply on these facts:
| Obligation | Why it applies |
|---|---|
| PCBU primary duty of care (SA WHS Act s 19) | Every business is a PCBU — the primary duty of care applies whether or not you employ anyone · SA law |
| Industrial manslaughter offence (SA WHS Act s 30A) | Applies to every PCBU and its officers — a death caused by reckless or negligent breach of a WHS duty is a crime · SA law |
Payroll tax in South Australia (FY2026-27)
SA: 4.95% on Australian wages above the $1.5 million tax-free threshold (FY2026-27). On these facts the business is below the South Australia threshold, so payroll tax does not apply yet.
- How the threshold works
- Register once Australian wages exceed $1.5M; maximum deduction $600,000 a year ($50,000 a month).
- Returns
- Monthly by the 7th of the following month; annual reconciliation by 21 July
- Administered by
- RevenueSA
South Australia regulators
Where the obligations sit
| Area | Obligations |
|---|---|
| Whs | 7 |
| Tax | 7 |
| Workplace | 7 |
| Directors | 4 |
| Consumer law | 4 |
| Super | 2 |
| Migration | 2 |
| Privacy | 2 |
| Corporations | 2 |
| Wages | 1 |
Critical obligations on this profile
- Apply for a Director Identification Number (Director ID) (Incorporated company (Corporations Act))
- Comply with directors' general law and statutory duties (Incorporated company (Corporations Act))
- Prevent insolvent trading (s 588G) (Incorporated company (Corporations Act))
- Pay superannuation on every payday (Payday Super) (You have employees (1–5))
- Pay employees in accordance with the applicable modern award (You have employees (1–5))
- Manage psychosocial hazards at work (You have employees (1–5))
- Take reasonable and proportionate measures to prevent sex discrimination, sexual (You have employees (1–5))
- Comply with the respirable crystalline silica workplace exposure limit (0.05 mg/m³) (Industry: Manufacturing)
Check whether these apply
- Comply with Heavy Vehicle Chain of Responsibility (CoR): only if you consign, pack, load or receive goods by heavy vehicle
- Register security interests on the PPSR: only if you supply goods on retention-of-title terms, or lease or finance equipment
- Notify + remediate contaminated land (state): only if you own, occupy or caused contamination of land
- Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (now mandatory): only if you are a large grocery retailer or supply one
- Stockholm + Rotterdam Convention chemicals (POPs ban): only if you import or manufacture industrial chemicals
- Button + coin battery safety standard (mandatory): only if you supply products containing button or coin batteries
- Lodge an FBT return and pay FBT by 21 May: only if you provide fringe benefits (cars, entertainment, loans) to employees
- Wash outbound marketing lists against the Do Not Call Register: only if you make outbound telemarketing calls
Thresholds to watch
- Lose the Privacy Act small-business exemption at $3M annual turnover (removal of the exemption altogether is proposed, not yet law) (threshold $3M; approaching)
Questions
- How many compliance obligations apply to manufacturing businesses in South Australia with 1–5 employees?
- 46 obligations apply (20 critical) across 23 regulators, plus 28 to check. Risk rating: medium. No licensed regime, but you employ staff (WHS, Fair Work, super and payroll duties); 20 critical obligations apply.
- Which South Australia laws apply?
- PCBU primary duty of care (SA WHS Act s 19) and Industrial manslaughter offence (SA WHS Act s 30A)
Related
- Manufacturing compliance in South Australia
- Manufacturing: all obligations
- Compliance obligations by industry, state and size
- Manufacturing in SA: sole trader
- Manufacturing in SA: sole trader with employees
- Manufacturing in SA: partnership
- Manufacturing in SA: trading trust
- Manufacturing in SA: no employees
- Manufacturing in SA: 20–99 employees
- Manufacturing in SA: 100–499 employees
- Manufacturing in SA: 20–99 employees, turnover $1M–$3M
- Manufacturing in SA: 6–19 employees, turnover $3M–$10M
- Manufacturing in SA: 100–499 employees, turnover $100M–$1B
- Manufacturing in SA: 500+ employees, turnover $1B+
- Manufacturing in New South Wales: 1–5 employees
- Manufacturing in Victoria: 1–5 employees
- Manufacturing in Queensland: 1–5 employees
- Manufacturing in Western Australia: 1–5 employees
- Manufacturing in Tasmania: 1–5 employees
- Manufacturing in Northern Territory: 1–5 employees
- Manufacturing in Australian Capital Territory: 1–5 employees
- Comply with the respirable crystalline silica workplace exposure limit (0.05 mg/m³): does it apply to manufacturing?
- Stockholm + Rotterdam Convention chemicals (POPs ban): does it apply to manufacturing?
- Maintain Hazardous Chemicals Register + manifest (WHS Reg): does it apply to manufacturing?
- Asbestos management — workplace + dwelling rules (state): does it apply to manufacturing?
Sources
- RevenueSA: payroll tax thresholds and rates
- PCBU primary duty of care (SA WHS Act s 19)
- Industrial manslaughter offence (SA WHS Act s 30A)
- Apply for a Director Identification Number (Director ID)
- Comply with directors' general law and statutory duties
- Prevent insolvent trading (s 588G)
- Pay superannuation on every payday (Payday Super)
- Pay employees in accordance with the applicable modern award
Computed by the Rules Mate applicability engine from the published obligation corpus; facts last checked 3 October 2026. Rules Mate is not a law firm and this is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your position with the regulator source or a qualified adviser before acting.