Modernising WA’s Workers’ Compensation system

NIBA has provided feedback to WorkCover WA on the Draft Workers Compensation and Injury Management Bill 2021. The Bill was released for public consultation in August, as part of the Western Australian government’s work to modernise the states Workers’ Compensation legislation.

The Bill, which is based on recommendations from WorkCover WA’s 2014 Review of the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981: Final Report, contains a number of significant changes to the WA Workers Compensation Scheme, including changes around provisional payments, return-to-work, prescribed diseases, disclosure of claims history and the extension of the Catastrophic Injuries Support Scheme (CISS) to cover catastrophically injured workers.

Many of these changes represent a significant shift in the way workers, insurers, employers and their agents engage with the workers’ compensation system. NIBA’s submission highlighted a number of these areas, including areas where in an effort to simplify the legislation important provisions were lost or made less clear or where the provisions would have a detrimental impact on clients and the broader market.

NIBA’s submission was heavily influenced by the technical expertise and advice provided by the WA Divisional Committee working group, which included brokers from across the WA broking community. NIBA would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the members of the Work Group for their efforts in helping to complete this monumental task.

With the public consultation period now closed, WorkCover WA will prepare a report for the Minister for Industrial Relations, the Hon. Bill Johnston, and finalise the Bill for introduction to Parliament.

To view NIBA’s submission click here