New Workers Compensation Laws in WA: Everything You Need to Know
Western Australia's new workers' compensation laws effective July 2024 introduce increased benefits, revised income calculations, and higher penalties.
This is an abridgement of an article that originally appeared on the Carbon Group website.
Western Australia has updated its workers' compensation laws with the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Bill 2023, effective July 1, 2024. This legislation replaces the outdated 1981 Act and implements recommendations from WorkCover WA's 2014 review.
Key changes include:
- Increased financial support: Medical expense limits have doubled, and full weekly compensation payments now extend to 26 weeks instead of 13.
- Revised income calculation: Weekly income is now based on earnings from the past year or total employment period if less than a year, providing a more accurate assessment of income loss.
- Comprehensive coverage for severe injuries: Workers with catastrophic injuries are now covered under the Catastrophic Injuries Support Scheme, ensuring lifetime care and support.
- Streamlined stress-related claims: Claims related to reasonable administrative actions, such as performance reviews, are now excluded.
- Extended claim processing time: Employers have seven days to submit claims to their insurer, allowing for more thorough processing.
The regulatory framework is still being developed, with public consultation expected soon. Notably, penalties for non-compliance have doubled to $10,000 per employee.
Businesses should review their policies to ensure compliance with these new regulations. The changes aim to provide clearer guidelines and increased certainty for both employees and employers in the workers' compensation system.
