COMPARISON OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS

STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES

STATUTORY

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

QUEENSLAND

TASMANIA

RESPONSIBILITIES

Return to work (RTW)

Employer required to keep

Employers who employ 30 or

Employer required to keep

provisions:

position open (if reasonably

more workers at a workplace

position open for injured

practicable for injured

must appoint a trained

worker for 12 months, unless

  Employer responsibilities

worker) for 12 months, and to

rehabilitation coordinator and

it is not practicable to do so,

take reasonable steps to

have rehabilitation policy and

or reason for position no

rehabilitate worker

procedures in place

longer exists

If that job is no longer

The rehabilitation

Employer required to provide

available, or worker can no

coordinator, and policy and

suitable alternative duties

longer perform it, employer

procedures, must be

unless not reasonably

must offer a similar position

accredited by Q Comp

practical to do so

for which worker is qualified,

Employers must take all

Employer required to prepare

and capable of doing

reasonable steps to assist or

return to work plan where

provide rehabilitation and

incapacity exceeds 14 days

suitable duties to injured

Employers with more than 20

workers

workers required to prepare

The prescribed minimum

and display a rehabilitation

period an employer is allowed

policy

before dismissing an

Employers with more than 50

employee is 6 months

workers required to provide a

(Section 93 Industrial

person who is responsible for

Relations Act 1999(QLD))

coordinating return to work

in accordance with the

employer's rehabilitation

policy (a rehabilitation

coordinator)

  Worker responsibilities

Benefits may be suspended if:

Worker may be required by

Benefits may be terminated

(a) worker does not undergo 

WorkCover or self insurer to

or reduced if a worker fails or

rehabilitation as specified 

undertake a rehabilitation

refuses to undertake a

by the Directorate; or

program

rehabilitation program or

suitable alternative duties

(b) worker refuses to attend 

Failure to comply may result

recommended by employer

without reasonable excuse,

in entitlements being

or obstructs, a medical 

suspended

Benefits may be suspended if

examination requested by 

worker refuses or obstructs

the employer. Benefits 

medical examination or

shall cease unless 

treatment

examination occurs within 

one month of the request 

(during suspension of 

benefits)

Heads of Workers' Compensation Authorities  36