COMPARISON OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS

BENEFITS

WESTERN

AUSTRALIA

QUEENSLAND

TASMANIA

NORTHERN

TERRITORY

A.C.T.

NEW ZEALAND

Economic and non 

Economic and non 

Economic and non 

N/A

Economic and non 

N/A

economic

economic

economic

economic

Disability

A worker who

Common law

N/A

No

N/A

thresholds are

sustains a

access available

assessed in

permanent

only if it is agreed

accordance with

impairment of at

or determined that

Schedule 2 (a table

least 20% or more

the worker has a

of maims), or to

of statutory

degree of

the extent

maximum

permanent

Schedule 2 does

compensation is

impairment of at

not apply, the AMA

entitled to lump

least 30% whole

(WA Branch)

sum compensation

person impairment

Assessment of

and access to

A worker is

Disability Guides

common law

required to elect to

(4th Edition)

A worker who

claim common law

Common law

sustains a

damages within

access is available

permanent

two years of the

only if it is agreed

impairment of less

date that weekly

or determined the

than 20% of

payments first

worker has:

statutory maximum

became payable.

  A degree of

compensation

Statutory benefits

permanent

must make an

continue to be paid

disability of not

irrevocable election

after the election

less than 16%, but

between accepting

less than 30% (a

the lump sum

`significant

offered or access

disability') and

to common law

elects between

statutory benefits

and common law,

normally within 6

months from the

date weekly

payments

commenced

(statutory benefits

cease from the

date of election); or

  A degree of

permanent

disability of 30% or

more (a `serious

disability').

Workers with a

serious disability

are entitled to

statutory benefits

and access to

common law

Heads of Workers' Compensation Authorities  33