New South Wales compliance hub
State-specific compliance obligations and regulators for New South Wales. Federal obligations (Fair Work, ASIC, AUSTRAC, OAIC, ATO etc.) also apply on top.
legislation.nsw.gov.au ↗ — official NSW legislation portal
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State-specific obligations
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NSW regulators
Regulators in NSW
- AHA NSWAustralian Hotels Association (NSW)
- Building Commission NSWBuilding Commission NSW
- EPA NSWNSW Environment Protection Authority
- FRNSWFire and Rescue NSW
- IPARTIndependent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal NSW
- IPC NSWInformation and Privacy Commission NSW
- Law Society NSWLaw Society of NSW
- Liquor & Gaming NSWLiquor and Gaming NSW
- Mining Warden NSWResources Regulator (NSW)
- NCATNSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal
- NSW Anti-Slavery CommissionerNSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner
- NSW Fair TradingNSW Fair Trading
- NSW Industrial RelationsNSW Industrial Relations (Premier's Department)
- OCG NSWOffice of the Children's Guardian (NSW)
- Racing NSWRacing NSW
- REINSWReal Estate Institute of New South Wales
- Revenue NSWRevenue NSW
- Revenue NSW — dutiesRevenue NSW (duties + foreign surcharges)
- SafeWork NSWSafeWork NSW
- Service NSWService NSW
- Strata Community AssociationStrata Community Association
NSW-specific obligations (20)
- criticalcurrentNSW + VIC solicitor trust account requirements
Solicitors holding client trust money face strict trust account + audit requirements.
- criticalcurrentNSW mining safety obligations (Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Act 2013)
NSW mine operators face mine-specific WHS obligations + Resources Regulator oversight.
- criticalcurrentPCBU primary duty of care (NSW WHS Act s 19)
NSW PCBUs must so far as reasonably practicable ensure the health and safety of workers and others.
- criticalcurrentNotify SafeWork NSW of notifiable WHS incidents
Death, serious injury, illness, dangerous incident — notify SafeWork NSW immediately.
- criticalcurrentComply with NSW Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020
Designers + builders of Class 2-9 buildings in NSW must register + lodge declarations.
- highcurrentComply with Workplace Surveillance Act 2005 (NSW)
NSW employers conducting workplace surveillance must give notice + meet specific conditions.
- highcurrentPay NSW land tax
NSW land tax applies on aggregated unimproved land value above $1.075M general threshold (2026).
- highcurrentComply with Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW)
Landlords + agents must lodge bonds with Rental Bond Board + comply with notice + minimum standards.
- highcurrentNSW development consent (Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979)
Most development in NSW requires consent under EP&A Act + local LEP / SEPP.
- highcurrentUnderquoting prohibition (NSW Property and Stock Agents Act 2002)
NSW real estate agents must not underquote — Maximum penalty $22,000.
- highcurrentComply with Retail Leases Act 1994 (NSW)
NSW retail leases — disclosure, 5-year minimum term, outgoings transparency.
- highcurrentHome Building Compensation Fund (NSW)
NSW residential building work >$20,000 requires HBCF insurance.
- highcurrentPay long service leave under the LSL Act 1955 (NSW)
NSW employees accrue 2 months LSL after 10 years' continuous service, payable on resignation after 5 years.
- highcurrentPay NSW transfer duty on residential property acquisitions
Variable transfer duty rates; foreign purchaser additional duty 9%.
- highcurrentObtain Subcontractor's Statements before paying subcontractors (NSW)
NSW principal contractors obtain a signed Subcontractor's Statement for each payment period to avoid liability for a subcontractor's unpaid workers compensation premiums, payroll tax and wages.
- highcurrentHold an NSW Charitable Fundraising Authority
Soliciting donations from the NSW public requires authorisation under the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991.
- highcurrentNational Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) — Aboriginal heritage
Activities affecting Aboriginal objects + sites in NSW require AHIP or due diligence.
- highcurrentPay NSW payroll tax when threshold met
NSW: 5.45% on Australian wages above the $1.2 million tax-free threshold (FY2026-27).
- mediumcurrentStrata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW)
Strata schemes must comply with budget, AGM, sinking fund + management requirements.
- mediumcurrentNSW Modern Slavery Act reporting (NSW public entities and their suppliers)
Covered NSW public entities must take reasonable steps on modern slavery risk and report annually; their suppliers are drawn in through tender and contract clauses.
State-run regimes that also apply in NSW (18)
Each state and territory legislates these separately, so the detail, fees and regulator in New South Wales differ from other states. The obligation page names the regulators we have verified.
- Working with Children Check / Blue Card (state)
State-issued working with children check required for child-related work.
NSW regulator: Office of the Children's Guardian (NSW)
- Comply with state infection control + notifiable disease rules
Health practitioners must notify State Health Departments of notifiable diseases.
- Hold valid liquor licence (state liquor licensing)
Liquor sale / supply requires state-issued licence; multiple categories.
NSW regulator: Liquor & Gaming NSW
- Hold state-issued gambling licence (operator + venue)
Wagering, casino, gaming machine + lottery operators require state-issued licences with operator probity.
NSW regulator: Liquor & Gaming NSW
- Notify + remediate contaminated land (state)
State EPA regimes require notification + remediation of contaminated land.
- Notify the Coroner of a reportable death (state)
Health practitioners + others must report certain deaths to the State Coroner.
- Asbestos management — workplace + dwelling rules (state)
Asbestos work requires licensed asbestos removalist + asbestos management plan.
- On-farm biosecurity record-keeping + reporting
Producers must maintain biosecurity records + immediately report notifiable diseases.
- Comply with state drinking water quality + safety regimes
Water utilities + private suppliers must meet state-specific drinking water quality standards.
NSW regulator: NSW Health (Public Health Act 2010)
- State mining royalties
Royalty payable on mining production per state Mining Acts.
- Comply with state vehicle standards + registration
Vehicle standards + registration administered by state road transport authorities.
NSW regulator: Transport for NSW
- Use AgVet chemicals in accordance with the APVMA label + state CUP
Agricultural and veterinary chemicals must be used per the registered label + state Chemical Use Permit conditions.
NSW regulator: NSW Environment Protection Authority (Pesticides Act)
- Animal Welfare Standards + Guidelines — Land Transport of Livestock
National + state-implemented standards for road + rail transport of livestock.
- State veterinary practice registration + animal welfare compliance
Veterinarians registered by state vet boards; animal welfare regulated by state agriculture departments.
NSW regulator: Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW
- Food Act state licensing + food safety supervisor
Food businesses must register + appoint Food Safety Supervisor under state Food Acts.
- RSA + RCG mandatory training (liquor + gaming)
Staff serving alcohol or in gaming venues need RSA / RCG certificates.
NSW regulator: Liquor & Gaming NSW
- Uniform Defamation Act — concerns notice + serious harm threshold
Pre-action concerns notice + serious harm threshold for defamation actions.
- Charity public fundraising — state authority cycle
Each state requires authorisation for public fundraising appeals.
Federal obligations also apply
State-specific obligations are on top of federal compliance — Fair Work, Privacy Act, AML/CTF, ASIC, ATO, ACCC and others apply regardless of state.