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
- 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 (19)
- criticalcurrentComply with NSW Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020
Designers + builders of Class 2-9 buildings in NSW must register + lodge declarations.
- criticalcurrentNotify SafeWork NSW of notifiable WHS incidents
Death, serious injury, illness, dangerous incident — notify SafeWork NSW immediately.
- 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.
- highcurrentComply with Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW)
Landlords + agents must lodge bonds with Rental Bond Board + comply with notice + minimum standards.
- highcurrentComply with Retail Leases Act 1994 (NSW)
NSW retail leases — disclosure, 5-year minimum term, outgoings transparency.
- highcurrentComply with Workplace Surveillance Act 2005 (NSW)
NSW employers conducting workplace surveillance must give notice + meet specific conditions.
- highcurrentHold an NSW Charitable Fundraising Authority
Soliciting donations from the NSW public requires authorisation under the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991.
- highcurrentHome Building Compensation Fund (NSW)
NSW residential building work >$20,000 requires HBCF insurance.
- highcurrentNational Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) — Aboriginal heritage
Activities affecting Aboriginal objects + sites in NSW require AHIP or due diligence.
- highcurrentNSW development consent (Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979)
Most development in NSW requires consent under EP&A Act + local LEP / SEPP.
- 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 land tax
NSW land tax applies on aggregated unimproved land value above $1.075M general threshold (2026).
- highcurrentPay NSW payroll tax when threshold met
NSW: 5.45% rate on Australian wages above the $1.2M tax-free threshold (FY26).
- highcurrentPay NSW transfer duty on residential property acquisitions
Variable transfer duty rates; foreign purchaser additional duty 9%.
- highcurrentUnderquoting prohibition (NSW Property and Stock Agents Act 2002)
NSW real estate agents must not underquote — Maximum penalty $22,000.
- mediumcurrentNSW Modern Slavery Act reporting (≥$50M)
NSW entities with ≥$50M revenue may need to comply with NSW MSA (Anti-Slavery Commissioner oversight).
- mediumcurrentStrata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW)
Strata schemes must comply with budget, AGM, sinking fund + management requirements.
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.