"It is the role of Safe Work Australia and its associated tripartite process to monitor emerging hazards, and those matters that the Bill seeks to address are already accommodated within the existing model framework. On this basis, the Bill should not be progressed," the business groups said in a joint statement.

"We are not aware of any evidence before the Parliament that would warrant such a significant departure from the model WHS laws," the groups added.

Among the signatories to the statement are the leaders of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Australian Industry Group, Australian Retailers Association, Business NSW, and the Business Council of Australia, among others.

The business groups' leaders further called out the government's lack of appropriate and thorough consultation with business in introducing the reforms. They also expressed concerns that the bill:

• Creates significant new access rights for WHS entry permit holders and unfair compliance obligations for PCBUs
• Raises substantial concerns about privacy, cybersecurity, and the protection of worker and customer data, intellectual property and commercially sensitive information
• References "guidelines" that are yet to be made, and the scope and content of which are unknown

"In the event your Government resolves to pursue the Bill, robust consultation on its impacts is crucial," the business groups said.

"Only if progressed, the Bill should be referred to a Parliamentary inquiry, alternatively,...

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