State Licensing Reference
Asbestos removal licensing is regulated at the state and territory level in Australia and nationally in New Zealand. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, the type of asbestos (friable vs non-friable), and the quantity of material being removed.
Australian licensing classes
Australia recognises two classes of asbestos removal licence:
- Class A: required for removal of friable asbestos. Applicable in all jurisdictions.
- Class B: required for removal of non-friable (bonded) asbestos exceeding 10m². Applicable in all jurisdictions.
Non-friable asbestos 10m² or less does not require a licence in most jurisdictions, but the work must comply with the relevant Codes of Practice and WHS regulations.
State and territory regulators
Each Australian state and territory has its own WHS regulator responsible for issuing asbestos removal and assessor licences.
| Jurisdiction | Regulator | Website |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | SafeWork NSW | safework.nsw.gov.au |
| Victoria | WorkSafe Victoria | worksafe.vic.gov.au |
| Queensland | Workplace Health and Safety Queensland | worksafe.qld.gov.au |
| Western Australia | WorkSafe WA (DMIRS) | demirs.wa.gov.au |
| South Australia | SafeWork SA | safework.sa.gov.au |
| Tasmania | WorkSafe Tasmania | worksafe.tas.gov.au |
| Australian Capital Territory | WorkSafe ACT | worksafe.act.gov.au |
| Northern Territory | NT WorkSafe | worksafe.nt.gov.au |
New Zealand
New Zealand uses the same two-class system as Australia, under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016:
- Class A: covers any type or quantity of asbestos, including any amount of friable asbestos and asbestos-contaminated dust.
- Class B: covers non-friable asbestos and the associated asbestos-contaminated dust only.
Removing more than 10m² of non-friable asbestos requires a licensed removalist, and any amount of friable asbestos requires a Class A licence. Class A sites need a licensed assessor for air monitoring and clearance, while a Class B clearance certificate can be issued by an independent competent person. Licences are issued by WorkSafe New Zealand.
Assessor and surveyor licensing
In Australia, asbestos assessors must hold a licence issued by the relevant state or territory regulator. Licensed assessors are required to conduct clearance inspections and issue clearance certificates after removal work.
In New Zealand, asbestos assessor licences are issued by WorkSafe New Zealand. A licensed assessor is required to carry out air monitoring and issue the clearance certificate for Class A (friable) removal work.
Verifying licences
Always verify a professional's licence directly with the relevant regulator before engaging them. Most regulators maintain online licence registers that you can search by name or licence number.
You can also use our directory to find licensed asbestos professionals across Australia and New Zealand.
This information is provided as a general reference. Requirements may change. Always check directly with the relevant regulator for current requirements.