May 2026

In the May Federal Budget, the Australian Government announced a commitment to subsidise access to mandatory Australian Standards. An important reform delivered as part of a broader package of national productivity measures.

This is a significant and welcome step forward.

For more than 100 years, Standards Australia has played a central role in supporting safety, quality and consistency across the country; from the roads we travel and the bridges we cross, to the homes we live in and the products we use every day. Standards are part of the essential infrastructure that underpins confidence and enables Australia to function effectively.

This government commitment is fundamentally about improving access to those standards.

Every day, people across industries rely on standards to do their jobs safely, efficiently and with confidence. By reducing barriers to mandatory standards, this reform will deliver tangible value on the ground, particularly for small and family-run businesses, apprentices and tradespeople who are responsible for building and maintaining Australia.

It is a landmark reform that will help ensure more Australians - especially those at the frontline of our industries - can access the standards they need to work safely and productively.

The announcement also represents a clear recognition from Government that standards are not just technical tools; they are critical infrastructure that supports productivity, strengthens safety outcomes and contributes to national priorities such as housing delivery and economic growth.

For Standards Australia, this is a meaningful recognition of the expertise, commitment and collaboration of our members, technical contributors and nominating organisations. It reflects the critical role you play in developing high-quality, trusted standards that support industry and the broader community.

Your work ensures standards remain relevant, practical and impactful, enabling safer practices, stronger productivity and better outcomes for Australians every day.

As we work through the detail of the announcement, we will continue to engage closely with Government to support its practical implementation and ensure it delivers the intended benefits nationwide. We will also keep you informed as more information becomes available - register your interest here to receive further detail about sponsored access.

This reform marks an important moment, not only in improving access to standards, but in strengthening Australia’s broader safety, productivity and growth agenda.

We thank you for your ongoing contribution and collaboration in developing standards, and for the vital role you play in supporting greater access to standards across Australia.

Standards Australia has expanded its online training offering with the launch of two new AI courses, creating a practical, standards‑aligned series designed to support confident and responsible AI adoption across industries.

The new courses, Developing Responsible AI Systems and Understanding Data‑Centric AI, build on Standards Australia’s existing Understanding the AI Management System Standard course. Together, the three courses form a connected learning pathway that helps organisations move from AI principles and standards to real‑world application.

Explore the full AI training series

Australians living in bushfire‑prone areas now have access to new, practical guidance to help make homes safer and more resilient: before, during and after a bushfire.

Standards Australia has released two new Bushfire Construction Handbooks, designed to turn complex technical requirements into clear, practical information that can be used in everyday decision‑making. Developed by the technical committee FP-020 on construction in bushfire-prone areas, the handbooks support homeowners and building practitioners to focus on the actions that most effectively help reduce bushfire risk and help protect property.

Importantly, the Homeowner’s Handbook is available free online, making trusted bushfire safety guidance accessible to all Australians.
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Access the handbooks

Protecting young children from button battery injuries remains a critical safety priority in Australia, with around 20 children rushed to emergency departments every week after suspected ingestion or insertion of these small cells. As the use of button batteries grows, so too does the need for stronger child‑resistant and new packaging designs that support safer storage, reuse, and improved recycling to reduce environmental impact.

To support this shift, Standards Australia has published a revised edition of AS 1928:2026 Child-resistant packaging – Requirements and testing procedures for reclosable package. The updated standard addresses emerging safety concerns, particularly around reusable packaging, and expands coverage to novel packaging types not previously captured.

Learn more

Our Development Programs are designed to engage young professionals, emerging industry leaders and technical experts in national and international standards development processes.

Apply for the IEC Young Professionals Programme

Submit your expression of interest for the NEXTgen Program

Learn more about our international initiatives and how to get involved.

Check out the latest standards development in your industry.

Explore emerging themes and projects that advance safety and drive economic growth in Australia and across the region.

Help us keep Australians safe! Our public comment phase provides an opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to make valuable contributions.

Draft standards open  for comment

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