THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

2005

WORKERS COMPENSATION AMENDMENT BILL 2005

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Amendments to the Workers Compensation Act 1951

Circulated by authority of the
Minister for Industrial Relations
Katy Gallagher MLA

1. Name of Act
2. Commencement
3. Legislation amended
4. Application of ch 15 to insurers Section 224(1)(b)
5. Entitlement of insurers to reimbursement from temporary fund Section 228(2)(a)
6. Expiry of ch 15 Section 232
7. Workers Compensation Supplementation Fund Act 1980, section 7(3)

1. Name of Act

This is a formal provision setting out the name of the Act.

2. Commencement

This is a formal provision specifying when the Act commences operation. The Act will commence on the day after it is notified in accordance with the Legislation Act 2001.

3. Legislation amended

This is a formal provision specifying the name of the Act that is amended.  The note to this clause indicates that the Act also amends the Workers Compensation Supplementation Fund Act 1980.

4. Application of ch 15 to insurers Section 224(1)(b)

Temporary provisions in Chapter 15 of the Workers Compensation Act 1951 apply where acts of terrorism happen before 1 April 2006.  Clause 4 of the Act will substitute a new date into paragraph 224(1)(b) to extend the application of the temporary provisions in Chapter 15 to acts of terrorism that happen before 1 April 2009.

5. Entitlement of insurers to reimbursement from temporary fund Section 228(2)(a)

Clause 5 will substitute a new date into paragraph 228(2)(a) of the Workers Compensation Act 1951, to ensure that insurers are able to make a claim from the temporary fund established under Chapter 15 of the Act if an act of terrorism occurs before 1 April 2009.

6. Expiry of ch 15 Section 232 

This clause omits the existing expiry date in section 232 and substitutes it with a new expiry date of 1 October 2009.

7. Workers Compensation Supplementation Fund Act 1980, section 7(3)

This clause omits the existing expiry date in subsection 7(3) and substitutes it with a new expiry date of 1 October 2009.  

This is a consequential amendment relating to changes to the Workers Compensation Act 1951 made by the Workers Compensation Amendment Act 2005.