Victorian Numbered Acts

ACCIDENT COMPENSATION AMENDMENT ACT 2010 (NO. 9 OF 2010)

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   PART 1--PRELIMINARY

   1.      Purpose  
   2.      Commencement  

   PART 2--WORKERS' ENTITLEMENT TO COMPENSATION

   3.      Definitions  
   4.      Pre-injury average weekly earnings  
   5.      Calculation of additional amount  
   6.      New subsection inserted in section 5A  
   7.      References to $1130 substituted  
   8.      Definition of full time student  
   9.      Amendment of section 14(3)  
   10.     New section 14AA inserted  
   11.     New sections 16A and 17 inserted  
   12.     Claims for mental injury  
   13.     Further amendment of section 82  
   14.     Definitions  
   15.     New sections 82A to 82D inserted  
   16.     New section 114BA inserted  
   17.     New sections 239AAA, 239AAB and 239AAC inserted  
   18.     Amendment of Road Safety Act 1986  

   PART 3--ENSURING TIMELY ACCESS TO BENEFITS

   19.     Amendment of section 103  
   20.     Amendment of sections 105 and 108  
   21.     New section 109 substituted  
   22.     Amendment of section 242  
   23.     New sections 242AA to 242AF inserted  
   24.     Proceedings under section 242AA to be instituted within 3 years  
   25.     Amendment of section 138B  
   26.     New section 252J inserted  
   27.     New section 252K inserted  

   PART 4--BETTER INCOME REPLACEMENT

   28.     Definitions  
   29.     New section 55AA inserted  
   30.     New section 91E inserted  
   31.     New sections 93A to 93CA substituted  
   32.     Amendments consequential on new sections 93A to 93CA  
   33.     Further consequential amendments  
   34.     New section 93CD substituted  
   35.     New section 93CDA inserted  
   36.     Repeal of section 93DA  
   37.     New section 93CE inserted  
   38.     Consequential amendment of section 59  
   39.     State average weekly earnings  
   40.     Amendment of section 96  
   41.     Amendment of section 96A  
   42.     Amendment of section 97  
   43.     New section 109AA inserted  
   44.     New section 252L inserted  
   45.     Amendment of section 114  
   46.     New section 114AA inserted  
   47.     New sections 114EA and 114EB inserted  

   PART 5--TREATMENT EXPENSES

   48.     Prior approval of medical and like services  
   49.     Amendment of section 99—extension to modifications of home or car  
   50.     Notice of cessation of compensation under section 99  
   51.     Repeal of section 99AAA  
   52.     Limits applying to contributions required towards supported accommodation costs  

   PART 6--LUMP SUM BENEFITS

   53.     Amendment of section 91  
   54.     Compensation for non-economic loss  
   55.     Alignment of lump sum and common law pain and suffering damages  
   56.     Amendment of section 100  

   PART 7--ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR SERIOUSLY INJURED WORKERS

   57.     Actions for damages—amendment of section 134AB  
   58.     New section 134ABAA inserted  
   59.     New section 134ABB inserted  
   60.     Repeal of section 134AD  
   61.     Actions for damages—amendment of section 135A  
   62.     New section 135BBA inserted  
   63.     New section 135AD inserted  

   PART 8--PAYMENTS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS FOLLOWING WORK-RELATED DEATHS

   64.     Definition  
   65.     Jurisdiction of Magistrates' Court—amendment of section 43  
   66.     Consequential amendments  
   67.     Compensation for death of a worker—amendment of section 92  
   68.     Revised compensation for death of worker—amendment of section 92A  
   69.     New section 92AA inserted  
   70.     Weekly pensions for dependants of worker who dies—amendment of section 92B  
   71.     New section 92D inserted  
   72.     Indexation—amendment of section 100  
   73.     New section 252H inserted  

   PART 9--TRANSPARENCY IN DECISION-MAKING AND EFFICIENT RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES

   74.     Definitions  
   75.     Jurisdiction of the Magistrates' Court—amendment of section 43  
   76.     Medical questions—amendment of section 45  
   77.     New section 48A inserted  
   78.     Certain proceedings referred for conciliation—amendment of section 49  
   79.     Appointment of Conciliation Officers—amendment of section 52D  
   80.     Substitution of section 52F  
   81.     Removal from office—amendment of section 52I  
   82.     New section 55AB inserted  
   83.     Procedures before Conciliation Officers—amendment of section 56  
   84.     Conciliation of disputes—amendment of section 57  
   85.     Disputes relating to weekly payments—amendment of section 59  
   86.     Certain evidence inadmissible in proceedings—amendment of section 61A  
   87.     Costs—amendment of section 62  
   88.     Establishment and constitution—amendment of section 63  
   89.     Procedures and powers—amendment of section 65  
   90.     Opinions—amendment of section 68  
   91.     New Division 3AA inserted in Part IV  
   92.     New section 252M inserted  
   93.     Amendment of Magistrates' Court Act 1989  

   PART 10--EMPLOYER PREMIUMS

           Division 1--Accident Compensation Act 1985

   94.     Definitions  
   95.     Section 5C substituted and new sections 5D and 5E inserted  
   96.     New Division 4 inserted in Part II  
   97.     New section 248AB inserted  
   98.     Investigation of fraud—amendment of section 248B  
   99.     New section 248BA inserted  

           Division 2--Accident Compensation (WorkCover Insurance) Act 1993

   100.    Definitions  
   101.    Compulsory WorkCover insurance—amendment of section 7  
   102.    WorkCover insurance policy—amendment of section 9  
   103.    Premiums order—general provisions—amendment of section 16  
   104.    New section 17A inserted  
   105.    Adjustment of premium—amendment of section 21  
   106.    New section 21A inserted  
   107.    Repeal of section 22 and consequential amendments  
   108.    New section 26A inserted  
   109.    Repeal of sections 27, 28, 28A and 28B  
   110.    Consequential amendments  
   111.    Application of review and adjustment powers—amendment of section 31  
   112.    Section 31A substituted  
   113.    Default penalty where failure to provide full true disclosure—amendment of section 31B  
   114.    New Part 2A inserted  
   115.    Registration of section 55(2)(a) employer—amendment of section 58  
   116.    Groups—amendment of section 66  
   117.    Joint and several liability of group members—amendment of section 66A  
   118.    Evidence—amendment of section 71  
   119.    Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction—amendment of section 77  
   120.    Consequential amendments  

   PART 11--RECOVERIES

   121.    Indemnity by third party—new subsection (4A) inserted  
   122.    Indemnity by third party—new subsections (6) to (9) inserted  
   123.    New section 252I inserted  

   PART 12--SELF-INSURANCE

   124.    Definitions  
   125.    Repeal of section 33A  
   126.    Part V substituted  
   127.    New Schedules 4 and 5 inserted  

   PART 13--RETURN TO WORK

   128.    Repeal of section 93D  
   129.    New Part VIIB inserted  
   130.    Consequential amendments relating to this Part  
   131.    Repeal of Part VI  
   132.    New section 20E inserted  
   133.    New sections 248D and 248E inserted  
   134.    Amendment of section 252  
   135.    New section 252AA inserted  
   136.    New section 252N inserted  
   137.    Amendment of Emergency Management Act 1986  
   138.    Amendment of Juries Act 2000  
   139.    Amendment of Long Service Leave Act 1992  
   140.    Amendment of Transport Accident Act 1986  
   141.    Amendment of Victoria State Emergency Service Act 2005  

   PART 14--MISCELLANEOUS

           Division 1--Service Providers

   142.    False or misleading information  
   143.    New sections 249AA—249BC inserted  
   144.    Consequential amendment of sections 99 and 249C  

           Division 2--Other Amendments

   145.    Definitions—WorkSafe Victoria  
   146.    Definitions  
   147.    New section 18A inserted  
   148.    Functions of the Authority [section 20]  
   149.    Additional powers of the Authority [section 20B]  
   150.    Authorised agents [section 23]  
   151.    Appeals [section 52]  
   152.    Indexation [section 100]  
   153.    Liability to pay compensation—recovery [section 125B]  
   154.    Repeal of Division 6 of Part IV  

           Division 6--of Part IV of the Accident Compensation Act 1985 is repealed.

   155.    Power to restrict or ban agents who engage in prohibited conduct  

   PART 15--REVISION OF PENALTIES

           Division 1--Accident Compensation Act 1985

   156.    Procedures before Conciliation Officers [section 56]  
   157.    Offence to not comply with direction [section 58B]  
   158.    Employer to keep registry of injuries etc. [section 101]  
   159.    Responsibilities of employer [section 108]  
   160.    Payment of weekly payments [section 114D]  
   161.    Return to work [section 123]  
   162.    Offences [section 129M]  
   163.    New section 177  
   164.    Offence of engaging in prohibited conduct [section 181]  
   165.    Consequences of prohibited conduct for legal practitioners [section 183]  
   166.    Legal practitioner and agents can be requested to certify as to prohibited conduct [section 184]  
   167.    Power to restrict or ban agents who engage in prohibited conduct [section 186]  
   168.    Warrants to enter and search [section 240A]  
   169.    New section 241 substituted  
   170.    Offences [section 242]  
   171.    Bribery [section 248AA]  
   172.    Fraud [section 248]  
   173.    False or misleading information [section 248A]  
   174.    False information [section 249]  
   175.    Obstructing officers [section 250]  
   176.    New section 251 substituted  
   177.    New section 251A inserted  

           Division 2--Accident Compensation (WorkCover Insurance) Act 1993

   178.    Compulsory WorkCover insurance [section 7]  
   179.    Issue and renewal of WorkCover insurance policies [section 10]  
   180.    Inspection of policies [section 12]  
   181.    Estimate of rateable remuneration [section 18]  
   182.    Revised estimates of rateable remuneration [section 20]  
   183.    Certificate of rateable remuneration [section 23]  
   184.    Information and records to be supplied by insurers [section 39]  
   185.    Payment of premiums [section 42]  
   186.    Claims against section 55(2)(a) or 55(2)(d) [section 57]  
   187.    Authority may require employer to provide information [section 60]  
   188.    Recovery of premium or penalty  
   189.    Books and accounts to be preserved [section 69]  
   190.    Warrants to enter and search [section 70]  

   PART 16--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

   191.    New Division 12 inserted in Part IX  

           Division 3AA--of Part IV, as inserted by section 91 of the amending Act, applies in respect of a claim for compensation in respect of an injury or death under this Act that is accepted by the Authority on and after the commencement date.

   192.    Consequential amendment  
   193.    New Division 2 inserted in Part 7  

   PART 17--REPEAL OF ACT

   194.    Repeal of Act  
           ENDNOTES