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Work Health and Safety Act 2011
In force
Administered by
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
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C2024C00243 C16
01 July 2024
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Part 1—Preliminary
Division 1—Introduction
1 Short title
2 Commencement
Division 2—Object
3 Object
Division 3—Interpretation
Subdivision 1—Definitions
4 Definitions
Subdivision 2—Other important terms
5 Meaning of person conducting a business or undertaking
6 Meaning of supply
7 Meaning of worker
8 Meaning of workplace
9 Examples and notes
Division 4—Application of Act
10 Act binds the Commonwealth
11 Extraterritorial application
12 Scope
12A Act does not apply to certain vessels, structures and facilities
12B Duty to consult etc. where law of more than one jurisdiction applies to the same matter
12C Act not to prejudice national security
12D Act not to prejudice Australia’s defence
12E Act not to prejudice certain police operations
12F Interaction with Commonwealth criminal law
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Part 2—Health and safety duties
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Division 1—Introductory
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Subdivision 1—Principles that apply to duties
13 Principles that apply to duties
14 Duties not transferrable
15 Person may have more than 1 duty
16 More than 1 person can have a duty
17 Management of risks
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Subdivision 2—What is reasonably practicable
18 What is reasonably practicable in ensuring health and safety
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Division 2—Primary duty of care
19 Primary duty of care
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Division 3—Further duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings
20 Duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings involving management or control of workplaces
21 Duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings involving management or control of fixtures, fittings or plant at workplaces
22 Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that design plant, substances or structures
23 Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that manufacture plant, substances or structures
24 Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that import plant, substances or structures
25 Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that supply plant, substances or structures
26 Duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that install, construct or commission plant or structures
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Division 4—Duty of officers, workers and other persons
27 Duty of officers
28 Duties of workers
29 Duties of other persons at the workplace
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Division 5—Offences and penalties
30 Health and safety duty
30A Industrial manslaughter
31 Negligence or reckless conduct—Category 1
32 Failure to comply with health and safety duty—Category 2
33 Failure to comply with health and safety duty—Category 3
34 Exceptions
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Part 3—Incident notification
35 What is a notifiable incident
36 What is a serious injury or illness
37 What is a dangerous incident
38 Duty to notify of notifiable incidents
39 Duty to preserve incident sites
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Part 4—Authorisations
40 Meaning of authorised
41 Requirements for authorisation of workplaces
42 Requirements for authorisation of plant or substance
43 Requirements for authorisation of work
44 Requirements for prescribed qualifications or experience
45 Requirement to comply with conditions of authorisation
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Part 5—Consultation, representation and participation
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Division 1—Consultation, co operation and co ordination between duty holders
46 Duty to consult with other duty holders
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Division 2—Consultation with workers
47 Duty to consult workers
48 Nature of consultation
49 When consultation is required
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Division 3—Health and safety representatives
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Subdivision 1—Request for election of health and safety representatives
50 Request for election of health and safety representative
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Subdivision 2—Determination of work groups
51 Determination of work groups
52 Negotiations for agreement for work group
53 Notice to workers
54 Failure of negotiations
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Subdivision 3—Multiple business work groups
55 Determination of work groups of multiple businesses
56 Negotiation of agreement for work groups of multiple businesses
57 Notice to workers
58 Withdrawal from negotiations or agreement involving multiple businesses
59 Effect of Subdivision on other arrangements
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Subdivision 4—Election of health and safety representatives
60 Eligibility to be elected
61 Procedure for election of health and safety representatives
62 Eligibility to vote
63 When election not required
64 Term of office of health and safety representative
65 Disqualification of health and safety representatives
66 Immunity of health and safety representatives
67 Deputy health and safety representatives
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Subdivision 5—Powers and functions of health and safety representatives
68 Powers and functions of health and safety representatives
69 Powers and functions generally limited to the particular work group
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Subdivision 6—Obligations of person conducting business or undertaking to health and safety representatives
70 General obligations of person conducting business or undertaking
71 Exceptions from obligations under section 70(1)
72 Obligation to train health and safety representatives
73 Obligation to share costs if multiple businesses or undertakings
74 List of health and safety representatives
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Division 4—Health and safety committees
75 Health and safety committees
76 Constitution of committee
77 Functions of committee
78 Meetings of committee
79 Duties of person conducting business or undertaking
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Division 5—Issue resolution
80 Parties to an issue
81 Resolution of health and safety issues
82 Referral of issue to regulator for resolution by inspector
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Division 6—Right to cease or direct cessation of unsafe work
83 Definition of cease work under this Division
84 Right of worker to cease unsafe work
85 Health and safety representative may direct that unsafe work cease
86 Worker to notify if ceases work
87 Alternative work
88 Continuity of engagement of worker
89 Request to regulator to appoint inspector to assist
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Division 7—Provisional improvement notices
90 Provisional improvement notices
91 Provisional improvement notice to be in writing
92 Contents of provisional improvement notice
93 Provisional improvement notice may give directions to remedy contravention
94 Minor changes to provisional improvement notice
95 Issue of provisional improvement notice
96 Health and safety representative may cancel notice
97 Display of provisional improvement notice
98 Formal irregularities or defects in notice
99 Offence to contravene a provisional improvement notice
100 Request for review of provisional improvement notice
101 Regulator to appoint inspector to review notice
102 Decision of inspector on review of provisional improvement notice
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Division 8—Part not to apply to prisoners
103 Part does not apply to prisoners
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Part 6—Discriminatory, coercive and misleading conduct
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Division 1—Prohibition of discriminatory, coercive or misleading conduct
104 Prohibition of discriminatory conduct
105 What is discriminatory conduct
106 What is a prohibited reason
107 Prohibition of requesting, instructing, inducing, encouraging, authorising or assisting discriminatory conduct
108 Prohibition of coercion or inducement
109 Misrepresentation
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Division 2—Criminal proceedings in relation to discriminatory conduct
110 Proof of discriminatory conduct
111 Order for compensation or reinstatement
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Division 3—Civil proceedings in relation to discriminatory or coercive conduct
112 Civil proceedings in relation to engaging in or inducing discriminatory or coercive conduct
113 Procedure for civil actions for discriminatory conduct
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Division 4—General
114 General provisions relating to orders
115 Prohibition of multiple actions
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Part 7—Workplace entry by WHS entry permit holders
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Division 1—Introductory
116 Definitions
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Division 2—Entry to inquire into suspected contraventions
117 Entry to inquire into suspected contraventions
118 Rights that may be exercised while at workplace
119 Notice of entry
120 Entry to inspect employee records or information held by another person
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Division 3—Entry to consult and advise workers
121 Entry to consult and advise workers
122 Notice of entry
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Division 4—Requirements for WHS entry permit holders
123 Contravening WHS entry permit conditions
124 WHS entry permit holder must also hold permit under other law
125 WHS entry permit to be available for inspection
126 When right may be exercised
127 Where the right may be exercised
128 Work health and safety requirements
129 Residential premises
130 WHS entry permit holder not required to disclose names of workers
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Division 5—WHS entry permits
131 Application for WHS entry permit
132 Consideration of application
133 Eligibility criteria
134 Issue of WHS entry permit
135 Conditions on WHS entry permit
136 Term of WHS entry permit
137 Expiry of WHS entry permit
138 Application to revoke WHS entry permit
139 Authorising authority must permit WHS entry permit holder to show cause
140 Determination of application
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Division 6—Dealing with disputes
141 Application for assistance of inspector to resolve dispute
142 Authorising authority may deal with a dispute about a right of entry under this Act
143 Contravening order made to deal with dispute
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Division 7—Prohibitions
144 Person must not refuse or delay entry of WHS entry permit holder
145 Person must not hinder or obstruct WHS entry permit holder
146 WHS entry permit holder must not delay, hinder or obstruct any person or disrupt work at workplace
147 Misrepresentations about things authorised by this Part
148 Unauthorised use or disclosure of information or documents
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Division 8—General
149 Return of WHS entry permits
150 Union to provide information to authorising authority
151 Register of WHS entry permit holders
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Part 8—The regulator
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Division 1—Functions of regulator
152 Functions of regulator
153 Powers of regulator
154 Delegation by regulator
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Division 2—Powers of regulator to obtain information
155 Powers of regulator to obtain information
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Part 9—Securing compliance
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Division 1—Appointment of inspectors
156 Appointment of inspectors
157 Identity cards
158 Accountability of inspectors
159 Suspension and ending of appointment of inspectors
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Division 2—Functions and powers of inspectors
160 Functions and powers of inspectors
161 Conditions on inspectors’ compliance powers
162 Inspectors subject to regulator’s directions
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Division 3—Powers relating to entry
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Subdivision 1—General powers of entry
163 Powers of entry
164 Notification of entry
165 General powers on entry
165A Powers relating to electronic equipment
165B Expert assistance to operate electronic equipment
166 Persons assisting inspectors
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Subdivision 2—Search warrants
167 Search warrants
168 Announcement before entry on warrant
169 Copy of warrant to be given to person with management or control of place
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Subdivision 3—Limitation on entry powers
170 Places used for residential purposes
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Subdivision 4—Specific powers on entry
171 Power to require production of documents and answers to questions
172 Abrogation of privilege against self incrimination
173 Warning to be given
174 Powers to copy and retain documents
175 Power to seize evidence etc.
176 Inspector’s power to seize dangerous workplaces and things
177 Powers supporting seizure
178 Receipt for seized things
179 Forfeiture of seized things
180 Return of seized things
181 Access to seized things
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Division 4—Damage and compensation
182 Damage etc. to be minimised
183 Inspector to give notice of damage
184 Compensation
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Division 5—Other matters
185 Power to require name and address
186 Inspector may take affidavits
187 Attendance of inspector at coronial inquests
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Division 6—Offences in relation to inspectors
188 Offence to hinder or obstruct inspector
189 Offence to impersonate inspector
190 Offence to assault, threaten or intimidate inspector
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Part 10—Enforcement measures
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Division 1—Improvement notices
191 Issue of improvement notices
192 Contents of improvement notices
193 Compliance with improvement notice
194 Extension of time for compliance with improvement notices
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Division 2—Prohibition notices
195 Power to issue prohibition notice
196 Contents of prohibition notice
197 Compliance with prohibition notice
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Division 3—Non disturbance notices
198 Issue of non disturbance notice
199 Contents of non disturbance notice
200 Compliance with non disturbance notice
201 Issue of subsequent notices
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Division 4—General requirements applying to notices
202 Application of Division
203 Notice to be in writing
204 Directions in notices
205 Recommendations in notice
206 Changes to notice by inspector
207 Regulator may vary or cancel notice
208 Formal irregularities or defects in notice
209 Issue and giving of notice
210 Display of notice
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Division 5—Remedial action
211 When regulator may carry out action
212 Power of the regulator to take other remedial action
213 Costs of remedial or other action
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Division 6—Injunctions
214 Application of Division
215 Injunctions for noncompliance with notices
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Part 11—Enforceable undertakings
216 Regulator may accept WHS undertakings
217 Notice of decision and reasons for decision
218 When a WHS undertaking is enforceable
219 Compliance with WHS undertaking
220 Contravention of WHS undertaking
221 Withdrawal or variation of WHS undertaking
222 Proceeding for alleged contravention
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Part 12—Review of decisions
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Division 1—Reviewable decisions
223 Which decisions are reviewable
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Division 2—Internal review
224 Application for internal review
225 Internal reviewer
226 Decision of internal reviewer
227 Decision on internal review
228 Stays of reviewable decisions on internal review
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Division 3—External review
229 Application for external review
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Part 13—Legal proceedings
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Division 1—General matters
230 Prosecutions
231 Procedure if prosecution is not brought
232 Limitation period for prosecutions
233 Multiple contraventions of health and safety duty provision
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Division 2—Sentencing for offences
234 Application of this Division
235 Orders generally
236 Adverse publicity orders
237 Orders for restoration
238 Work health and safety project orders
239 Release on the giving of a court ordered WHS undertaking
240 Injunctions
241 Training orders
242 Offence to fail to comply with order
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Division 3—Infringement notices
243 Infringement notices
243A Matters to be included in an infringement notice
243B Extension of time to pay amount
243C Withdrawal of an infringement notice
243D Effect of payment of amount
243E Effect of this Division
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Division 4—Offences by bodies corporate
244 Definitions
244A Physical elements
244B Fault elements other than negligence
244BA Negligence
244C Mistake of fact
244D Failure to take reasonable precautions
244E How this Division applies to public authorities
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Division 5—The Commonwealth
245 Definitions
245A Offences and the Commonwealth—physical elements
245B Offences and the Commonwealth—fault elements other than negligence
245BA Offences and the Commonwealth—negligence
245C Offences and the Commonwealth—mistake of fact
245D Offences and the Commonwealth—failure to take reasonable precautions
245E Offences and the Commonwealth—penalties
246 WHS civil penalty provisions and the Commonwealth
247 Officers
248 Responsible agency for the Commonwealth
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Division 6—Public authorities
249 Application to public authorities that are bodies corporate
250 Proceedings against public authorities
251 Offences and public authorities
252 Officer of public authority
253 Proceedings against successors to public authorities
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Division 7—WHS civil penalty provisions
254 When is a provision a WHS civil penalty provision
255 Proceedings for contravention of WHS civil penalty provision
256 Involvement in contravention treated in same way as actual contravention
257 Contravening a civil penalty provision is not an offence
258 Civil proceeding rules and procedure to apply
259 Proceeding for a contravention of a WHS civil penalty provision
260 Proceeding may be brought by the regulator or an inspector
261 Limitation period for WHS civil penalty proceedings
262 Recovery of a monetary penalty
263 Civil double jeopardy
264 Criminal proceedings during civil proceedings
265 Criminal proceedings after civil proceedings
266 Evidence given in proceedings for contravention of WHS civil penalty provision not admissible in criminal proceedings
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Division 8—Civil liability not affected by this Act
267 Civil liability not affected by this Act
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Part 14—General
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Division 1—General provisions
268 Offence to give false or misleading information
269 Act does not affect legal professional privilege
270 Immunity from liability
271 Confidentiality of information
271A Additional ways that regulator may use and share information
272 No contracting out
272A No insurance or other indemnity against penalties
272B Liability of officers for offences by body corporate under s 272A
273 Person not to levy workers
273A Conferral of jurisdiction
273B Application of the Legislation Act 2003
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Division 2—Codes of practice
274 Approved codes of practice
275 Use of codes of practice in proceedings
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Division 3—Regulation making powers
276 Regulation making powers
Schedule 1—Application of Act to dangerous goods and high risk plant
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Schedule 2—The regulator and local tripartite consultation arrangements and other local arrangements
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Part 1—Preliminary
1 Definitions
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Part 2—The Commission
2 Functions
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Part 3—Comcare
3 Annual reports
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Part 3A—Family and Injured Workers Advisory Committee
3A Definitions for this Part
3B Establishment of the Family and Injured Workers Advisory Committee
3C Functions of the Advisory Committee
3D Membership of the Advisory Committee
3E Appointment of Advisory Committee members
3F Invited participants
3G Acting appointments
3H Remuneration and allowances
3J Leave of absence
3K Disclosure of interests to the Minister
3L Disclosure of interests to the Advisory Committee
3M Resignation
3N Termination of appointment
3P Other terms and conditions
3Q Meetings and procedures
3R Administrative support
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Part 4—Other persons
4 Annual reports
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Schedule 3—Regulation making powers
1 Duties
2 Incidents
3 Plant, substances or structures
4 Protection and welfare of workers
5 Hazards and risks
6 Records and notices
7 Authorisations
8 Work groups
9 Health and safety committees and health and safety representatives
10 Issue resolution
11 WHS entry permits
12 Identity cards
13 Forfeiture
14 Review of decisions
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Schedule 4—Penalty amounts
1 Monetary penalties—categories 1 to 3
2 Monetary penalties—tiers A to I
3 Monetary penalties—WHS civil penalty provision—tiers 1 to 4
4 Indexation of penalty amounts
5 Rounding of penalty amounts
6 Public notification of adjusted penalty amounts
7 Definitions
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Endnotes
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history
