Is there one national dangerous goods licence?

No. Dangerous goods regulation in Australia is severely state-fragmented — separate Acts, not just different numbers. Storage and handling rules differ by state, and transport is regulated separately again under the Australian Dangerous Goods Code. There is no single national licence that covers all of it.

When do I need a dangerous goods manifest in NSW, Qld, the ACT, the NT or Tasmania?

In these harmonised WHS jurisdictions (and under the Commonwealth WHS Regulations), a manifest is required once your quantities exceed the Schedule 11 threshold for that hazard class, in the format set out in Schedule 12. The PCBU must notify the regulator before first exceeding the threshold, and again if quantities later drop back below it. Check the exact figure for your class on the Safe Work Australia placard and manifest quantities page.

Does the Schedule 11 threshold apply in Victoria, WA or SA?

No. Victoria runs its own Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2022 (notify WorkSafe Victoria within 3 business days of becoming notifiable, plus a written emergency plan). WA runs the separate Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 with its own site licensing through WorkSafe WA. SA runs a dual framework — WHS Regulations 2012 plus the Dangerous Substances (General) Regulations 2017, including a 'Licence to Keep' at higher quantities. None of these three use the Schedule 11 figure — check the threshold with your own state regulator.

What's the difference between storage rules and transport rules for dangerous goods?

Storing or handling dangerous goods on site is regulated under WHS or state dangerous goods law (which varies by state, as above). Transporting them is a separate legal track entirely — the Australian Dangerous Goods (ADG) Code, adopted by each state's own transport legislation, not the WHS Act. The current edition is 7.9, usable from 1 October 2024 and mandatory from 1 October 2025. A dangerous goods driver licence is generally required once a load exceeds placard-load thresholds, which vary by class and packing group.

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