OVERVIEW

Workers Compensation is paid for injuries or illness arising from your employment. The benefits generally cover treatment, loss of wages and pain and suffering.

Most of our members are mainly covered by national Legislation - the SRC Act (Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988). It is also known as Comcare.

Most private companies are covered by state legislation. Each state has its own Compensation legislation. Below is a list to assist you when determining which laws cover you.

There are many similarities between the various state and federal legislation.

COMPENSATION - AN INTERESTING CASE

VAKAUTA v. KELLY (1989) 167 CLR 568 F.C. 89/040 - High Court of Australia October 5, 1989 - Extracts from the decision

"The learned trial judge's adverse comments about Dr L, Dr R and Dr D in the course of the trial of the present case were indeed strong:
"that unholy trinity";
the G.I.O.'s "usual panel of doctors who think you can do a full week's work without any arms or legs";
whose "views are almost inevitably slanted in favour of the GIO by whom they have been retained, consciously or unconsciously."
His Honour indicated that he regarded those three medical practitioners as falling within a "particular category of doctors" to whom he had an adverse attitude.
"Even Dr L, his evidence, which was as negative as it always seems to be - and based as usual upon his non-acceptance of the genuineness of any plaintiff's complaints of pain".