Pastoral Workers’ Accommodation Regulation 2026

1Short title

This regulation may be cited as the Pastoral Workers’ Accommodation Regulation 2026.

2Commencement

This regulation commences on 1 September 2026.

3Work declared to be pastoral work—Act, s 5, definition pastoral work

For section 5 of the Act, definition pastoral work, paragraph (d), cooking for a worker employed on behalf of an occupier is declared to be pastoral work to the extent the cooking is performed by a person in the course of their employment on behalf of the occupier.

4Accommodation prescribed for resident workers—Act, ss 8, 9 and 10

(1)This section prescribes accommodation for—

(a)sections 8(1) and 9(2) of the Act; and

(b)section 10(1) of the Act to the extent the subsection relates to accommodation for resident workers provided with group accommodation.

(2)The accommodation prescribed is accommodation that complies with the requirements under—

(a)division 2 and schedule 1; and

(b)section 14 and schedule 2.

5Accommodation prescribed for non-resident workers—Act, s 10

(1)This section prescribes accommodation for section 10(1) of the Act to the extent the subsection relates to accommodation for non-resident workers.

(2)The accommodation prescribed is accommodation that complies with the requirements applying to the accommodation under division 2 and schedule 1.

6Application of division

This division applies to accommodation for resident workers or non-resident workers.

7General accommodation requirements

(1)The accommodation must include a building, room or structure for each of the following uses—

(a)as a kitchen complying with schedule 1, section 1;

(b)as a dining area complying with schedule 1, section 2;

(c)as a bathing area complying with schedule 1, section 3;

(d)for toilet facilities complying with schedule 1, section 4;

(e)if meat preparation is carried out on the premises where the accommodation is provided—for meat preparation facilities complying with schedule 1, section 5.

(2)The accommodation must also be provided with waste disposal facilities complying with schedule 1, section 6.

(3)In this section—

meat preparation means any part of the processing of meat from the slaughter of an animal until the meat is in a form that can be conveniently cooked for human consumption.

8Exception to particular requirements for accommodation for non-resident workers on particular premises

(1)This section applies, despite section 7(1), if—

(a)fewer than 4 non-resident workers are employed on behalf of an occupier to work on premises; and

(b)no other worker, other than a worker employed as a cook, is employed on behalf of the occupier to work on the premises.

(2)The following requirements do not apply to the accommodation provided by the occupier for the workers on the premises—

(a)the requirement to include a building, room or structure for use as a kitchen;

(b)the requirement to include equipment and utensils for a kitchen under schedule 1, section 1(d);

(c)the requirement to include facilities for meat preparation under schedule 1, section 5.

(3)Despite subsection (2)(a), the accommodation must include the things for a kitchen required under schedule 1, section 1(a), (b) and (c).

9Accommodation only for worker and authorised family member

The accommodation must be provided only for—

(a)a worker; and

(b)if the occupier has agreed to provide the accommodation for a family member of the worker—the family member.

10Compliance with Queensland Development Code, part 5.6

(1)The accommodation must comply with the performance criteria stated in the Queensland Development Code, part 5.6.

(2)For subsection (1), a performance criterion is complied with if—

(a)the acceptable solution for the criterion set out opposite the criterion is complied with; or

(b)the criterion is complied with in a way that is at least equivalent to the acceptable solution set out opposite the criterion.

(3)In this section—

Queensland Development Code see the Building Act 1975, section 13.

11Adequacy of accommodation

(1)The accommodation must be adequate to meet the reasonable needs of—

(a)each worker using the accommodation; and

(b)if the occupier has agreed to provide the accommodation for a family member of a worker—each family member.

Examples of the operation of subsection (1)—

•A reasonable need of a worker and 3 family members to enjoy fresh food might adequately be met by the provision of a refrigerator with a capacity of at least 170 litres.

•A reasonable need for a resident worker who performs mustering work away from the premises where the worker usually works and stays might adequately be met by the provision of kitchen facilities, sleeping quarters and laundry facilities for the worker only while they are working and staying on the premises.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), if a person cannot reasonably use the accommodation or part of the accommodation without a supply of water or energy, the accommodation must be provided with a supply of water or energy that is adequate to meet the reasonable needs of the person.

Examples—

•An adequate supply of clean water would be required to service a bathing area.

•A connection to an electricity supply and a water supply would be required to operate an electric washing machine.

12Good order and repair

(1)The accommodation must be—

(a)in good order and repair; and

(b)in a hygienic condition.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1)—

(a)a building or structure that is part of the accommodation must be maintained and kept in a clean condition; and

(b)any fittings, furnishings or equipment that are part of the accommodation must be—

(i)maintained; and

(ii)kept in a clean condition; and

(iii)kept in working order.

13Storage of hazardous or offensive goods or material

The accommodation must not be used by the occupier to store hazardous or offensive goods or material, including, for example, fertiliser or untreated sheepskin.

14Particular accommodation requirements for resident workers

(1)This section applies, in addition to division 2, to accommodation for resident workers.

(2)The accommodation must include—

(a)a building or structure, for use as a sleeping area, complying with schedule 2, section 1; and

(b)a building, room or structure, for laundry facilities complying with schedule 2, section 2.

15Application of regulation to accommodation in existence or under construction

To remove any doubt, it is declared that this regulation applies to accommodation provided under the Act even if the accommodation existed, or was under construction, immediately before the commencement.

sections 4(2)(a), 5(2), 7 and 8

1Kitchen

A building, room or structure for use as a kitchen must include—

(a)an oven, stove or range; and

(b)a refrigerator used only for the refrigeration of perishable food; and

(c)the following equipment—

(i)an electric or gas appliance for boiling drinking water;

(ii)a coffeepot or teapot; and

(d)other equipment and utensils reasonably expected to be found in a fully equipped kitchen.

Examples for paragraph (d)—

•air tight storage containers for bread, butter, flour and sugar

•a broom

•dish washing detergent, scourers, sponges, tea towels

•knives for carving and chopping

•mixing utensils, baking dishes, a rolling pin

•saucepans, including a frying pan

•a tin opener

Note—

For the requirements for providing facilities for a kitchen under this section that apply to accommodation for non-resident workers on particular premises, see section 8 of this regulation.

2Dining area

A building, room or structure for use as a dining area must be provided with—

(a)crockery; and

(b)cutlery; and

(c)glassware; and

Examples of glassware—

•drinking glasses

•a water jug or carafe

(d)seating; and

(e)a table.

3Bathing area

A building, room or structure for use as a bathing area must be provided—

(a)with separate bathing areas for males and females; and

(b)in a way that ensures the privacy of a person using a bathing area.

4Toilet facilities

A building, room or structure for toilet facilities must—

(a)be provided with separate toilet facilities for males and females; and

(b)be provided in a way that ensures the privacy of a person using the toilet facilities; and

(c)contain toilet paper and disinfectant.

5Meat preparation facilities

A building, room or structure for meat preparation facilities must include—

(a)a chopping block; and

(b)a work bench; and

(c)hooks for hanging meat.

Note—

For the non-application of the requirement to provide facilities for meat preparation for accommodation for non-resident workers on particular premises, see section 8 of this regulation.

6Waste disposal facilities

The facilities must—

(a)consist of metal waste containers with lids; and

(b)be provided for use in areas where there are kitchen or dining facilities.

sections 4(2)(b) and 14(2)

1Sleeping area

(1)A building or structure for use as a sleeping area must consist of rooms that comply with subsections (2) to (6).

(2)A room must be provided in a way that allows no more than 2 persons to sleep in the room.

(3)Separate rooms for males and females must be provided.

(4)A room must include each of the following things—

(a)for each person sleeping in the room—

(i)a bed that is not a bunk; and

(ii)a chair; and

(iii)a mattress; and

(iv)a pillow; and

(v)a towel rack;

(b)a table;

(c)a wardrobe or curtained-off area for hanging clothes;

(d)clothes hooks;

(e)a broom;

(f)a waste container;

(g)if the room can be locked and a person sleeping in the room asks the occupier for a key to the room—the key.

(5)A room must not adjoin a kitchen unless the room is provided for a worker employed as a cook on behalf of the occupier.

(6)A room must not be provided in a way that would allow food to be cooked, served or stored in the room.

2Laundry facilities

A building, room or structure for laundry facilities must include—

(a)either—

(i)an electric washing machine; or

(ii)if it is not reasonably practicable for the occupier to arrange for the connection of a washing machine to an electricity supply—a copper; and

(b)a clothes line and pegs.