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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
Western Australia
Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation
Amendment (Cross Border) Bill 2004
CONTENTS
Part 1 -- Preliminary
1. Short title 2
2. Commencement 2
Part 2 -- Cross border provisions
Division 1 -- Amendments
3. The Act amended 3
4. Section 5 amended 3
5. Section 15 repealed 3
6. Section 16 amended 3
7. Section 20 inserted 4
8. Section 23 replaced 6
9. Part III Division 1a inserted 7
10. Part IV Division 1a inserted 9
11. Section 170 amended 13
12. Section 174 amended 14
13. Schedule 6 inserted 15
Division 2 -- Transitional
14. Transitional provisions 16
Part 3 -- Further amendments
15. The Act amended 18
16. References to "a disability" changed to "an injury" 18
17. References to "disability" changed to "injury" 18
18. References to "the Commission" changed to
"WorkCover WA" 19
19. Reference to "disabilities" changed to "injuries" 19
page i
296--1
Western Australia
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation
Amendment (Cross Border) Bill 2004
A Bill for
An Act to amend the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation
Act 1981 and for related purposes.
The Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows:
page 1
Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Part 1 Preliminary
s. 1
Part 1 -- Preliminary
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Workers' Compensation and
Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border) Act 2004.
5 2. Commencement
(1) This Act comes into operation on a day fixed by proclamation.
(2) Different days may be fixed under subsection (1) for --
(a) Part 2; and
(b) Part 3,
10 but the day fixed for Part 3 is not to be earlier than the day fixed
for Part 2.
(3) If the day fixed under subsection (1) for Part 3 is the same as the
day fixed for Part 2, Part 3 comes into operation immediately
after Part 2.
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Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Cross border provisions Part 2
Amendments Division 1
s. 3
Part 2 -- Cross border provisions
Division 1 -- Amendments
3. The Act amended
The amendments in this Part are to the Workers' Compensation
5 and Rehabilitation Act 1981*.
[* Reprinted as at 14 September 2001.
For subsequent amendments see Western Australian
Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 438-9.]
4. Section 5 amended
10 Section 5(1) is amended as follows:
(a) by deleting the definition of "ship" and inserting
instead --
"
"ship" means any kind of vessel used in navigation by
15 water, however propelled or moved, and
includes --
(a) a barge, lighter, or other floating vessel; and
(b) an air-cushion vehicle, or other similar craft,
used wholly or primarily in navigation by water;
20 ";
(b) by inserting in the appropriate alphabetical position --
"
"State" includes Territory;
".
25 5. Section 15 repealed
Section 15 is repealed.
6. Section 16 amended
(1) Section 16(1) and (1a) are repealed.
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Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Part 2 Cross border provisions
Division 1 Amendments
s. 7
(2) Section 16(2) is amended by deleting the portion of the
subsection beginning with "The" and ending with
"modifications" and inserting instead --
"
5 This Act applies with the following modifications in
respect of a disability occurring to a worker employed
on a ship where under section 20 the worker's
employment is connected with this State
".
10 7. Section 20 inserted
After section 19 the following section is inserted --
"
20. Compensation not payable unless worker's
employment connected with this State
15 (1) In this section --
"State", in a geographical sense, includes a State's
relevant adjacent area as described in Schedule 6.
(2) Compensation under this Act is only payable in respect
of employment that is connected with this State.
20 (3) The fact that a worker is outside this State when the
disability occurs does not prevent compensation being
payable under this Act in respect of employment that is
connected with this State.
(4) A worker's employment is connected with --
25 (a) the State in which the worker usually works in
that employment;
(b) if no State or no one State is identified by
paragraph (a), the State in which the worker is
usually based for the purposes of that
30 employment; or
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Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Cross border provisions Part 2
Amendments Division 1
s. 7
(c) if no State or no one State is identified by
paragraph (a) or (b), the State in which the
employer's principal place of business in
Australia is located.
5 (5) In the case of a worker working on a ship, if no State or
no one State is identified by subsection (4), a worker's
employment is, while working on a ship, connected
with the State in which the ship is registered or (if the
ship is registered in more than one State) the State in
10 which the ship most recently became registered.
(6) If no State is identified by subsection (4) or (if
applicable) (5), a worker's employment is connected
with this State if --
(a) a worker is in this State when the disability
15 occurs; and
(b) there is no place outside Australia under the
legislation of which the worker may be entitled
to compensation for the same matter.
(7) In deciding whether a worker usually works in a State,
20 regard must be had to --
(a) the worker's work history with the employer
over the preceding period of 12 months; and
(b) the intentions of the worker and employer,
but regard must not be had to any temporary
25 arrangement under which the worker works in a State
for a period of not longer than 6 months.
(8) Subject to subsection (7), in deciding whether a worker
usually works in a State or is usually based in a State
for the purposes of employment, regard must be had to
30 any period during which a worker works in a State or is
in a State for the purposes of employment whether or
not under the statutory workers' compensation scheme
page 5
Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Part 2 Cross border provisions
Division 1 Amendments
s. 8
of that State the person is regarded as a worker or as
working or employed in that State.
(9) Compensation under this Act does not apply in respect
of the employment of a worker on a ship if the
5 Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992
of the Commonwealth applies to the worker's
employment.
".
8. Section 23 replaced
10 Section 23 is repealed and the following section is inserted
instead --
"
23. Person not to be compensated twice
(1) Compensation under this Act is not payable in respect
15 of anything to the extent that --
(a) compensation has been received under the laws
of a place other than this State; or
(b) judgment has been obtained against the
employer independently of this Act.
20 (2) If a person receives compensation under this Act and,
for the same matter, subsequently --
(a) receives compensation under the laws of a
place other than this State; or
(b) obtains judgment against the employer
25 independently of this Act,
the person from whom compensation under this Act is
received may, in a court of competent jurisdiction, sue
and recover from the person the amount described in
subsection (3).
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Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
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Cross border provisions Part 2
Amendments Division 1
s. 9
(3) The amount that is recoverable under subsection (2)
is --
(a) the amount of compensation paid under this
Act; or
5 (b) the amount of compensation received under the
laws of a place other than this State or for
which judgment was obtained independently of
this Act,
whichever is less.
10 ".
9. Part III Division 1a inserted
After section 23 the following Division is inserted --
"
Division 1a -- Determination by courts and recognition
15 of determination
23A. Definition
In this Division --
"court" includes a tribunal constituted by a judicial
officer.
20 23B. Determination of State with which worker's
employment is connected in proceedings under this
Act
(1) If the question of whether this State is connected with a
worker's employment arises in proceedings in a court
25 in relation to a claim for compensation under this Act,
that court must --
(a) determine the State with which the worker's
employment is connected in accordance with
section 20; and
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Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Part 2 Cross border provisions
Division 1 Amendments
s. 9
(b) cause that determination to be entered in the
records of the court.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if there is a
determination that is to be recognised under
5 section 23D.
23C. Determination by the District Court of State with
which worker's employment is connected
(1) If a claim for compensation has been made under this
Act, a party to the claim may apply to the District
10 Court for a determination of the question of which
State is the State with which the worker's employment
is connected.
(2) The District Court must determine an application under
subsection (1) in accordance with section 20 and cause
15 that determination to be entered in the records of the
court.
(3) An application under subsection (1) is not to be made
or heard if there is a determination that is to be
recognised under section 23D.
20 23D. Recognition of previous determinations
(1) This section applies if a determination of the State with
which a worker's employment is connected has been
made --
(a) by a court of this State under section 23B or
25 23C;
(b) by a court of another State under a provision of
a law that corresponds with section 23B or
23C; or
(c) by a court of this State or another State in the
30 course of proceedings on a claim for damages
to which Part IV Division 1a applies or to
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Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Cross border provisions Part 2
Amendments Division 1
s. 10
which provisions of a law of another State
corresponding to that Division apply.
(2) The State determined as mentioned in subsection (1) is
to be recognised for the purposes of this Act as the
5 State with which the worker's employment is
connected.
(3) This section does not prevent any appeal relating to the
determination.
(4) If the determination is altered on appeal, the altered
10 determination is to be recognised under subsection (2).
23E. Determination may be made by consent
In this Division a reference to a determination made by
a court in a proceeding includes a reference to a
determination made by the court with the consent of
15 the parties to the proceeding.
".
10. Part IV Division 1a inserted
Before the heading to Part IV Division 2 the following Division
is inserted --
20 "
Division 1a -- Choice of law
93AA. The applicable substantive law for work disability
claims
(1) If there is an entitlement to compensation under the
25 statutory workers' compensation scheme of a State in
respect of a disability to a worker (whether or not
compensation has been paid), the substantive law of
that State is the substantive law that governs --
(a) whether or not a claim for damages in respect
30 of the disability can be made; and
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Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Part 2 Cross border provisions
Division 1 Amendments
s. 10
(b) if it can be made, the determination of the
claim.
(2) This Division does not apply if compensation is
payable in respect of the disability under the statutory
5 workers' compensation scheme of more than one State.
(3) For the purposes of this section, compensation is
considered to be payable under a statutory workers'
compensation scheme of a State in respect of a
disability if compensation in respect of it --
10 (a) would have been payable but for a provision of
the scheme that excludes the worker's right to
compensation because the disability is
attributable to any conduct or failure of the
worker that is specified in that provision; or
15 (b) would have been payable if a claim for that
compensation had been duly made, and (where
applicable) an election to claim that
compensation (instead of damages) had been
duly made.
20 (4) A reference in this section to compensation payable in
respect of a disability does not include a reference to
compensation payable on the basis of the provisional
acceptance of liability.
93AB. Claims to which Division applies
25 (1) This Division applies to a claim for damages or
recovery of contribution brought against a worker's
employer in respect of a disability that was caused
by --
(a) the negligence or other tort (including breach of
30 statutory duty) of the worker's employer; or
(b) a breach of contract by the worker's employer.
page 10
Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
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Cross border provisions Part 2
Amendments Division 1
s. 10
(2) This Division also applies to a claim for damages or
recovery of contribution brought against a person other
than a worker's employer in respect of a disability if --
(a) the worker's employment is connected with this
5 State; and
(b) the negligence or other tort or the breach of
contract on which the claim is founded
occurred in this State.
(3) Subsection (1)(a) and subsection (2) apply even if
10 damages resulting from the negligence or other tort are
claimed in an action for breach of contract or other
action.
(4) A reference in this Division to a worker's employer
includes a reference to --
15 (a) a person who is vicariously liable for the acts of
the employer; and
(b) a person for whose acts the employer is
vicariously liable.
93AC. What constitutes disability and employment
20 For the purposes of this Division --
(a) "disability", "employer" and "worker"
include anything that is within the scope of a
corresponding term in the statutory workers'
compensation scheme of another State; and
25 (b) the determination of what constitutes
employment or whether or not a person is a
worker or a worker's employer is to be made on
the basis that those concepts include anything
that is within the scope of a corresponding
30 concept in the statutory workers' compensation
scheme of another State.
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Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Part 2 Cross border provisions
Division 1 Amendments
s. 10
93AD. Claim in respect of death included
For the purposes of this Division, a claim for damages
in respect of death resulting from a disability is to be
considered as a claim for damages in respect of the
5 disability.
93AE. Meaning of "substantive law"
In this Division --
"a State's legislation about damages for a work
related disability" means --
10 (a) for this State -- Division 2;
(b) for another State -- any provisions of a law
of that State that is declared by the
regulations to be the State's legislation about
damages for a work related disability;
15 "substantive law" includes --
(a) a law that establishes, modifies, or
extinguishes a cause of action or a defence to
a cause of action;
(b) a law prescribing the time within which an
20 action must be brought (including a law
providing for the extension or abridgment of
that time);
(c) a law that provides for the limitation or
exclusion of liability or the barring of a right
25 of action if a proceeding on, or arbitration of,
a claim is not commenced within a particular
time limit;
(d) a law that limits the kinds of injury, loss or
damage for which damages or compensation
30 may be recovered;
(e) a law that precludes the recovery of damages
or compensation or limits the amount of
page 12
Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Cross border provisions Part 2
Amendments Division 1
s. 11
damages or compensation that can be
recovered;
(f) a law expressed as a presumption, or rule of
evidence, that affects substantive rights; and
5 (g) a provision of a State's legislation about
damages for a work related disability,
whether or not it would be otherwise
regarded as procedural in nature,
but does not include a law prescribing rules for
10 choice of law.
93AF. Availability of action in another State not relevant
(1) It makes no difference for the purposes of this Division
that, under the substantive law of another State --
(a) the nature of the circumstances is such that they
15 would not have given rise to a cause of action
had they occurred in that State; or
(b) the circumstances on which the claim is based
do not give rise to a cause of action.
(2) In subsection (1) --
20 "another State" means a State other than the State
with which the worker's employment is connected.
".
11. Section 170 amended
(1) After section 170(3) the following subsections are inserted --
25 "
(3a) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under this
section of failing to comply with section 160(1) or (2)
in respect of a worker if the court is satisfied that at the
time of the alleged offence the employer believed on
30 reasonable grounds that the employer could not be
liable under this Act in respect of the worker because
page 13
Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Part 2 Cross border provisions
Division 1 Amendments
s. 12
under section 20 the worker's employment was not
connected with this State.
(3b) If the employer's belief on reasonable grounds was that
under section 20 the worker's employment was
5 connected with another State, subsection (3a) does not
apply unless at the time of the alleged offence the
employer had workers' compensation cover in respect
of the worker under the law of that other State.
".
10 (2) After section 170(6) the following subsection is inserted --
"
(7) In subsection (3b) --
"workers' compensation cover" means insurance or
registration required under the law of a State in
15 respect of liability for statutory workers'
compensation under that law.
".
12. Section 174 amended
After section 174(5) the following subsection is inserted --
20 "
(5a) Despite any other provisions of this section, if the
Commission is satisfied that the reason for the
employer not being insured against liability to pay
compensation to the worker is that the employer
25 believed on reasonable grounds that the employer
could not be liable under this Act in respect of the
worker because under section 20 the worker's
employment was not connected with this State, the
employer is not liable to the Commission for any
30 amount paid by the Commission under this section.
".
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Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Cross border provisions Part 2
Amendments Division 1
s. 13
13. Schedule 6 inserted
After Schedule 5 the following Schedule is inserted --
"
Schedule 6 -- Adjacent areas
5 [s. 20]
1. Terms used in this Schedule
In this Schedule --
"continental shelf " and "territorial sea" have the same
meanings as those terms have in the Seas and
10 Submerged Lands Act;
"Petroleum Act" means the Petroleum (Submerged Lands)
Act 1967 of the Commonwealth;
"Seas and Submerged Lands Act" means the Seas and
Submerged Lands Act 1973 of the Commonwealth.
15 2. Adjacent areas
(1) The "adjacent area" for New South Wales, Victoria, South
Australia or Tasmania is so much of the area described in
Schedule 2 to the Petroleum Act in relation to that State as is
within the outer limits of the continental shelf and includes
20 the space above and below that area.
(2) The "adjacent area" for Queensland is --
(a) so much of the area described in Schedule 2 to the
Petroleum Act in relation to Queensland as is within
the outer limits of the continental shelf;
25 (b) the Coral Sea area (within the meaning of
subsection (7) of section 5A of the Petroleum Act
other than the territorial sea within the Coral Sea area;
(c) the areas within the outer limits of the territorial sea
adjacent to certain islands of Queensland as
30 determined by proclamation on 4 February 1983
under section 7 of the Seas and Submerged Lands
Act; and
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Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Part 2 Cross border provisions
Division 2 Transitional
s. 14
(d) the space above and below the areas described in
paragraphs (a), (b) and (c).
(3) The "adjacent area" for Western Australia is so much of
the area described in Schedule 2 to the Petroleum Act in
5 relation to Western Australia as --
(a) is within the outer limits of the continental shelf;
and
(b) is not within Area A of the Zone of Cooperation,
and includes the space above and below that area.
10 (4) The "adjacent area" for the Northern Territory is --
(a) so much of the area described in Schedule 2 to the
Petroleum Act in relation to the Northern Territory
as --
(i) is within the outer limits of the continental
15 shelf; and
(ii) is not within Area A of the Zone of
Cooperation;
(b) the adjacent area for the Territory of Ashmore and
Cartier Islands (within the meaning of
20 subsection (3) of section 5A of the Petroleum Act)
other than the territorial sea within that area; and
(c) the space above and below the areas described in
paragraphs (a) and (b).
(5) However, the adjacent area for a State does not include any
25 area inside the limits of any State or Territory.
".
D ivision 2 -- Transitional
14. Transitional provisions
(1) In this section --
30 "amendments" means amendments made to the principal Act
by this Act;
page 16
Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Cross border provisions Part 2
Transitional Division 2
s. 14
"commencement day" means the day on which this Part comes
into operation;
"principal Act" means the Workers' Compensation and
Rehabilitation Act 1981,
5 and other terms used have meanings consistent with the
meanings they have in the principal Act.
(2) The amendments do not apply in respect of a disability that
occurred before the commencement day, and the principal Act
applies in respect of such a disability as if the amendments had
10 not been made.
(3) If the death of a worker results from both a disability that
occurred before the commencement day and a disability that
occurred on or after that day, the worker is, for the purposes of
the application of the amendments to and in respect of the death
15 of the worker, to be treated as having died as a result of the
disability that occurred on or after that day.
(4) If a period of incapacity for work resulted both from a disability
that occurred before the commencement day and a disability
that occurred on or after that day, the incapacity is, for the
20 purposes of the application of the amendments to and in respect
of that incapacity for work, to be treated as having resulted from
a disability that occurred on or after that day.
(5) Neither the amendments nor subsections (3) and (4) affect the
apportionment of liability under Part III Division 6 of the
25 principal Act in a case where one or more of the disabilities
concerned occurred before the commencement day and one or
more occurred on or after that day.
(6) A policy of insurance that an employer has against liability
under the principal Act and that is in force at the beginning of
30 the commencement day covers the employer, for as long as the
policy remains in force, for the employer's liability under the
principal Act as amended by this Act.
page 17
Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Part 3 Further amendments
s. 15
Part 3 -- Further amendments
15. The Act amended
Except as otherwise indicated, the amendments in this Part are
to the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 1981* as
5 amended by Part 2 Division 1.
[* Reprinted as at 14 September 2001.
For subsequent amendments see Western Australian
Legislation Information Tables for 2003, Table 1, p. 438-9.]
16. References to "a disability" changed to "an injury"
10 The provisions specified in the Table to this section are
amended by deleting "a disability" in each place where it occurs
and inserting instead --
" an injury ".
Table
s. 16(2) s. 93AD
s. 93AA(1), (3) and (4) s. 14(2), (3) and (4) of this Act
s. 93AB(1) and (2)
15 17. References to "disability" changed to "injury"
(1) Section 93AC(a) is amended by deleting "disability" and
inserting instead --
" injury ".
(2) Section 93AD is amended by deleting "disability" in the second
20 place where it occurs and inserting instead --
" injury ".
(3) Section 93AE is amended as follows:
(a) in the definition of "a State's legislation about damages
for a work related disability" by deleting "disability" in
25 the first place where it occurs and inserting instead --
" injury ";
page 18
Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment (Cross Border)
Bill 2004
Further amendments Part 3
s. 18
(b) in paragraph (b) of the definition of "a State's legislation
about damages for a work related disability" by deleting
"disability" and inserting instead --
" injury ";
5 (c) in paragraph (g) of the definition of "substantive law"
by deleting "disability" and inserting instead --
" injury ".
(4) Section 20(3) and (6)(a) and section 93AA(1)(a), (2) and (3)(a)
are amended by deleting "disability" in each place where it
10 occurs and inserting instead --
" injury ".
(5) Section 14(3) of this Act is amended by deleting "disability" in
the third place where it occurs and inserting instead --
" injury ".
15 18. References to "the Commission" changed to
"WorkCover WA"
Section 174(5a) is amended by deleting "the Commission" in
each place where it occurs and inserting instead --
" WorkCover WA ".
20 19. Reference to "disabilities" changed to "injuries"
Section 14(5) of this Act is amended by deleting "disabilities"
and inserting instead --
" injuries ".
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