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Today's Topics:
1. Digital Work Systems Bill (NSW) (Roger Clarke)
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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2025 07:59:37 +1100
From: Roger Clarke <[email protected]>
To: link <[email protected]>
Subject: [LINK] Digital Work Systems Bill (NSW)
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
NSW digital work systems laws spark industry backlash
Justin Hendry
Innovation Aus
20 November 2025
https://www.innovationaus.com/nsw-digital-work-systems-laws-spark-industry-backlash/
Tech and business groups have warned that landmark NSW laws holding
employers accountable for worker harm caused by digital work systems are
excessively broad, capturing almost all software used by businesses.
The Tech Council (TCA) and Business Council (BCA) hit out at the
government?s Digital Work Systems Bill just hours after it was
introduced to the NSW Parliament on Wednesday, arguing it will sap
productivity and innovation.
The bill, which the lobby groups claim was rushed into parliament
without consultation, proposes new duty of care for businesses to
?ensure that the health and safety of workers is not put at risk from
the use of a digital work system?.
...
[ Pay-walled ]
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/bills/Pages/bill-details.aspx?pk=18847
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/bill/files/18847/First%20Print.pdf
It would insert s.21A into the WHS Act:
21A Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings involving
digital
work systems
(1) A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure, so far as
is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of a worker is not
put at risk from the allocation of work by a digital work system used by
the business or undertaking.
(2) A person conducting a business or undertaking must consider whether
the allocation of work by or using a digital work system creates or
results in any of the following risks?
(a) excessive or unreasonable workloads for workers at work in the
business or undertaking,
(b) the use of excessive or unreasonable metrics to assess and track the
performance of workers at work in the business or undertaking,
(c) excessive or unreasonable monitoring or surveillance of workers at
work in the business or undertaking,
(d) discriminatory practices or decision-making in the conduct of the
business or undertaking.
--
Roger Clarke mailto:[email protected]
T: +61 2 6288 6916 http://www.xamax.com.au http://www.rogerclarke.com
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd 78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
Visiting Professorial Fellow UNSW Law & Justice
Visiting Professor in Computer Science Australian National University
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