Passage of the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Digital Work Systems) Bill 2025 through the NSW Parliament will curb unsafe, AI-driven work practices, rostering and invasive workplace surveillance, representing a landmark victory for workers.
"This is a breakthrough for hundreds of thousands of workers," said Mark Morey, Secretary of Unions NSW. "By explicitly holding employers responsible when AI and digital systems harm workers, NSW is setting a proper standard for workplace safety in the digital age."
The legislation addresses critical gaps identified in parliamentary inquiries regarding work intensification and the psychological risks of automated decision-making. Under the new laws, employers are explicitly required to ensure that digital work systems—including algorithms, AI, and online platforms—do not risk the health and safety of workers. Businesses must now specifically consider if their digital systems result in excessive workloads, unreasonable performance metrics, or discriminatory practices.
Crucially, unions now have a formal right to require "reasonable assistance" to access and inspect digital systems when there's a suspected safety breaches, with 48 hours notice.
The passage of these laws follows a recent Redbridge poll of 1,507 NSW workers which found nearly two-in-five workers (38%) believe the risks of AI outweigh the benefits, while seven in ten (69%) support tougher regulation.
"The community has been clear: they don't want to stop technology, but they want it used fairly and safely," said Morey. "These laws ensure that when an algorithm decides your hours, your pay, or your pace of work, there are clear rules and real human oversight to prevent harm."
"Despite hyperbolic claims from business lobbyists, these laws are based on a very reasonable principle: technology should serve the workforce rather than exploiting it. Any business using these tools responsibly has nothing to fear from these new safety standards."
