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COMMITTEE'S Report

The committee tabled its report on the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 on 12 February 2021. The Government's response to this report was tabled on 11 May 2021. The Bill was passed with amendment on 12 May 2021.

About the Bill

On 26 November 2020, the Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing, Hon Grace Grace MP, introduced the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 (Bill) into the Legislative Assembly. The Bill was referred to the Education, Employment and Training Committee for detailed consideration and report by Friday 12 February 2021.

View:  Bill   
View:  Explanatory notes
View:  Statement of compatibility
View:  Explanatory speech

The Bill is identical to the Bill of the same name introduced by the Minister on 12 August 2020 and referred to the Education, Employment and Small Business Committee of the 56^th Parliament. That Bill lapsed with the dissolution of that Parliament by proclamation on 6 October 2020.  Documents relating to the lapsed Bill can be viewed here. 

The explanatory notes state that the Bill will introduce presumptive workers’ compensation for first responders and eligible employees, diagnosed with PTSD. The objective of the Bill is to provide an alternative claims pathway for first responders who are struggling to cope with PTSD that presumes they have a work-related injury, unless it is proved their injury was not caused by work.

The Bill achieves its objectives by amending the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 and the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Regulation 2014 to introduce presumptive workers’ compensation for first responders and eligible employees who are diagnosed with PTSD by a psychiatrist.

Timeline

Submissions closed:                      6 December 2020
Public hearing and briefing:        16 December 2020 - program - archived broadcast (public hearing) - archived broadcast (public briefing)
Report date:                                  12 February 2021 

Support

Submissions, hearing and briefing transcripts, and archived broadcasts for this inquiry contain information that some people may find disturbing. If the information causes you distress, the committee encourages you to contact any of the organisations listed here.