Background
The Workers Compensation Act 1987 and Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 were amended on 1 November 2006.
For any questions relating to the amendments, please contact WorkCover NSW on 13 10 50 .
New Rules
New Rules have been drafted in accordance with the new legislative amendments. To view our new Rules click here.
If you wish to cross-reference the old Rules to the new Rules, please refer to our Rules Summary of Changes.
Summary of amendments that impact on the Workers Compensation Commission
- The Workers Compensation Commission Rules 2003 have been replaced by the Workers Compensation Commission Rules 2006
- Our Forms , Practice Directions and Guidelines have been revised
- The Registry will screen applications to ensure they comply with the new mandatory preconditions. The Commission will continue to accept old forms in the interim, however applications which fail to meet the new legislative requirements will be rejected.
- Parties will be restricted on the application to matters previously notified, and documents exchanged prior to lodgement of the application with the Commission
- Directions for Production will be issued following the teleconference only with leave of the Arbitrator.
- Disputes regarding the degree of permanent impairment will be referred directly to an Approved Medical Specialist by the Registrar.
- The Registrar will no longer register agreements under s66A of the Workers Compensation Act 1987.
- Provisional liability for medical expenses has been increased to $7,500.
- If a dispute is referred to an Arbitrator, the teleconference will be held about 35 days after registration of the application.
- If a conciliation/arbitration hearing is required, it will be held:
- within 21 days of the date of the teleconference if no directions for production are issued
- within 8 weeks of the date of the teleconference if directions for production are issued
If you have any questions relating to the changes in our procedures, please call 1300 368 040.