What Builders and Crane Hire Companies Need to Know

If you’re hiring or operating cranes on Victorian construction sites in 2026, two separate regulatory changes could affect how you work.

  1. One is a national review of crane licensing that doesn’t yet apply in Victoria.
  2. The other is a Victorian labour hire law change that will hit certain government funded projects from October 2026.

Need help understanding what these changes mean for your next project? Contact our team at Quinlan Cranes for expert advice on crane hire, licensing requirements and Victorian regulations.

Part One: National Review

Safe Work Australia has proposed seven changes to the national High Risk Work Licensing framework for cranes. Public consultation on the draft impact analysis closed on the 4th of May 2026.

These proposed changes include introducing new types of licences and updating the requirements for existing crane licences. These changes sit inside the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws.

Whereas, Victoria operates under its own Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) and OHS Regulations 2017, not the model WHS laws, so nothing automatically applies in Victoria until WorkSafe Victoria adopts equivalent changes into the state’s OHS.

At the time of publication (September 2026), there is no public indication that WorkSafe Victoria has adopted these specific crane licensing proposals.

Part Two: Victorian Labour Hire Law Changes

Separately, Victoria is strengthening its labour hire licensing laws for the construction sector. Final amendments are anticipated to take effect from 29 October 2026, subject to regulatory consultation and final regulations.

See changes as according to the Labour Hire Authority.

Changes From 1 October

The definition of ‘labour hire’ will be updated to make it clearer when a business is considered to be supplying workers. For most businesses, the basic rule stays the same being that if you supply workers, you likely already need a labour hire licence. The main change is that some businesses that supply workers as part of a larger supply chain may now also need a licence.

Changes From 29 October

The labour hire rules may also extend to certain construction activities on Victorian Government funded projects over $50 million. This includes roles such as crane operating, traffic management, concreting and site security. If your business supplies workers in these roles on these projects, you may need a labour hire licence, and companies engaging them must use licensed providers.

For further information see Labour Hire Law Changes 2026.

What Victorian crane companies must do before the changes apply?

Before any new national or state rules fully apply, mobile crane companies and other crane hire businesses should treat the following as key obligations to keep work safe and compliant.

1. Check Licence Classes

Check every operator’s licence class against the specific crane they are put on

2. Re-verify Operators

Re‑verify Franna and non‑slewing crane operators if encompassment changes go ahead

3. Check Dogging Tickets

Add dogging tickets to new‑operator pathways and competency checks

4. Monitor Updates

Keep WorkSafe Victoria and Safe Work Australia updates on the radar

5. Update Safety Documents

Update SWMS, lift plans and safe work procedures to reflect current licensing rules

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the changes apply?

National Review

At this stage the seven crane licensing changes are proposals under the model WHS laws and are still at the consultation and decision making stage at the national level. Important to note, Victoria operates under its own OHS Act and Regulations, so nothing applies here automatically.

VIC Labour Hire Law Changes

  • From 1 October 2026, updated definition of labour hire (supply chain operators may now need a licence).
  • From 29 October 2026, the rules may also apply to certain construction activities (including crane operating) on Victorian Government funded projects over $50 million.

Who can apply for crane training in Victoria?

In Victoria, anyone who meets the following baseline requirements can apply for crane training through a registered training organisation (RTO) and be assessed for a high‑risk work licence by a WorkSafe accredited assessor if you are:

  • Aged 18 or over
  • Have the right to work in Australia
  • Possess the language, literacy and numeracy skills needed to safely understand instructions, signage, load charts and safe work method statements
  • Be physically fit enough to perform high‑risk work safely, including working at height, handling loads and responding to site hazards

Why do the changes matter for industry?

The proposed changes could mean some crane operators need additional licences or training to operate certain cranes. For crane hire businesses, staying across these requirements will help ensure operators have the right qualifications for each job.