AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE 1965

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

No. 6 of 1965

	There has been a trend throughout the Commonwealth for general increases in compensation entitlements for workers.

	It has been the policy in the past to retain in the Australian Capital Territory Workmen’s Compensation Ordinance compensation benefits at the same levels as those provided by the Commonwealth Employees’ Compensation Act.  The latter Act was amended towards the end of 1964 to provide new and revised compensation benefits.

	This Ordinance consequently effects increases in compensation benefits by amending the First Schedule and substituting a new schedule in lieu of the Second Schedule in the Ordinance to equate compensation benefits to those provided by the 1964 amendment to the Commonwealth Employees’ Compensation Act.

	Provision has also been made in the case of the death of a workman for a weekly payment of £in respect of each child under the age of sixteen years at the date of the workman’s death, who was wholly or mainly dependent upon his earnings, in lieu of the present provision of a lump sum payment.

	The existing Ordinance provides by way of definition that any person in receipt of remuneration in excess of £2,000 per annum cannot receive compensation benefits and the amending Ordinance removes this barrier to the rights to receive compensation for injury.

J.D. ANTHONY