Untitled document
WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act 2017
No. 48 of 2017
table of provisions
Section Page
Part 1—Preliminary
1Purpose
2Commencement
Part 2—Amendments to the Accident Compensation Act 1985
3Liability of Authority and self-insurer
4Indexation of certain amounts—consumer price index
5Actions for damages
6New Division 16 of Part IX inserted
Part 3—Amendments to the Dangerous Goods Act 1985
7Definitions
8Governor in Council may make Order with respect to dangerous goods
Part 4—Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
9Act binds the Crown
10Authority may accept undertakings
11Incidents to which this Part applies
12Duty to notify of incidents
13Duty to preserve incident sites
14Service of provisional improvement notice or inspector's notice
15Prohibition on discrimination
16Prohibited reasons
17Revocation and disqualification
18Power to require production of documents etc.
19Service of notices
20Proceedings may be brought by the Authority or inspectors
21Procedure if prosecution is not brought
22Limitation period for prosecutions
23Release on the giving of a health and safety undertaking
24Liability of officers of partnerships and unincorporated bodies or associations
25Offence to give false or misleading information
26New Part 15 inserted
Part 5—Amendments to the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013
27Assessing degree of impairment of whole person
28Part not to apply in certain circumstances
29Definition applying to pre-injury average weekly earnings and current weekly earnings—base rate of pay
30Liability of Authority and self-insurer
31Certain persons not compelled to give evidence
32Review of approval
33Eligible subsidiary of self-insurer becomes a non‑WorkCover employer
34Authority retains or assumes liability for tail claims
35Functions of the Authority
36Delegation
37Indexation of certain amounts—consumer price index
38Criminal liability of officers of bodies corporate—failure to exercise due diligence
39Institution of prosecutions
40New sections 623G, 623H, 623I and 623J inserted
Part 6—Repeal of amending Act
41Repeal of amending Act
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Endnotes
1 General information
WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act 2017
No. 48 of 2017
[Assented to 26 September 2017]
The Parliament of Victoria enacts:
Part 1—Preliminary
1Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to amend—
(a)the Accident Compensation Act 1985; and
(b)the Dangerous Goods Act 1985; and
(c)the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004; and
(d)the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013—
to further improve the operation of those Acts.
2Commencement
(1)This Part, Parts 2 and 3, sections 9, 20, 23, 24 and 26, Part 5 (except for section 27) and Part 6 come into operation on the day after the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.
(2)Section 27 is taken to have come into operation on 1 July 2014.
(3)Subject to subsection (4), the remaining provisions of this Act come into operation
on a day or days to be proclaimed.
(4)If a provision of this Act does not come into operation before 21 March 2018, it comes into operation on that day.
Part 2—Amendments to the Accident Compensation Act 1985
3Liability of Authority and self-insurer
(1)In section 99(1)(c) of the Accident Compensation Act 1985, for "injury—" substitute "injury; and".
(2)After section 99(1)(c) of the Accident Compensation Act 1985 insert—
"(d)reasonable travelling or accommodation expenses not exceeding $5000 incurred by family members of the worker in circumstances where—
(i)death results from the injury; and
(ii)a burial service or cremation service is held in respect of the worker; and
(iii)the service is held at least 100 kilometres from the normal residence of the worker's family members; and
(iv)the travelling or accommodation expenses are incurred within Australia—".
4Indexation of certain amounts—consumer price index
In the Table to section 100C of the Accident Compensation Act 1985—
(a)items 1, 2, 17 to 22, 26, 27, 31 to 36, 39 and 51 are repealed;
(b)after item 40 insert—
| "40A | Section 99(1)(c)—$5000 |
| 40B | Section 99(1)(d)—$5000". |
5Actions for damages
In section 134AB(25)(a) of the Accident Compensation Act 1985, for "99" substitute "Division 2B of Part IV".
6New Division 16 of Part IX inserted
After Division 15 of Part IX of the Accident Compensation Act 1985 insert—
"Division 16—WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act 2017
392Amendment of section 99 (Liability of Authority and self-insurer)
This Act, as amended by section 3 of the WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act 2017, applies to all claims made on or after the date on which section 3 of the WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act 2017 comes into operation.
393Savings provision—seafarers' claims
(1)This section applies to a claim for compensation made, and a premium collected or recovered, under this Act that, but for Samson Maritime Pty Ltd
v Noel Aucote [2014] FCAFC 182, would be a valid claim or validly collected or recovered premium in accordance with this Act.(2)If a claim has been accepted by the Authority, then it is taken to be a valid claim in accordance with this Act.
(3)If a premium has been collected or recovered by the Authority, then it is taken to be validly collected or recovered.
(4)Nothing in this section creates any new entitlement to compensation.".
Part 3—Amendments to the Dangerous Goods Act 1985
7Definitions
In section 3(1) of the Dangerous Goods Act 1985, the definition of statutory rule is repealed.
8Governor in Council may make Order with respect to dangerous goods
For section 55(1) of the Dangerous Goods Act 1985 substitute—
'(1)If the Governor in Council is of the opinion that it would be expedient for the public safety, the Governor in Council may make an Order—
(a)prohibiting absolutely or subject to conditions or restrictions the manufacture, storage, supply, transfer, transport, sale or use of any dangerous goods; or
(b)regulating the clean-up, removal and transport of asbestos, asbestos‑containing material, asbestos‑contaminated dust and asbestos waste.
(1A)An Order made under subsection (1) must be published in the Government Gazette.
(1B)An Order made under subsection (1)(b) has effect—
(a)from the date on which it is published in the Government Gazette; and
(b)for a period of 6 months from the date on which it is published in the Government Gazette, unless an earlier period is specified in the Order; and
(c)despite anything to the contrary in the regulations made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.
(1C)In this section—
asbestos means—
(a)the asbestiform varieties of mineral silicates belonging to the serpentine or amphibole groups of rock-forming minerals, including—
(i)actinolite asbestos; and
(ii)anthophyllite asbestos; and
(iii)chrysotile ("white asbestos"); and
(iv)crocidolite ("blue asbestos"); and
(v)grunerite asbestos (or amosite) ("brown asbestos"); and
(vi)tremolite asbestos; or
(b)any material or object, whether natural or manufactured, that contains one or more of the mineral silicates referred to in paragraph (a);
asbestos-containing material means any manufactured material or object that, as part of its design, contains one or more of the mineral silicates referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of asbestos (other than plant in which asbestos is fixed or installed);
asbestos-contaminated dust means dust that is, or is assumed to be, contaminated with asbestos;
asbestos waste means asbestos removed and disposable items used during asbestos removal work or asbestos-related activities, including plastic sheeting and disposable personal protective clothing and disposable protective equipment including tools.'.
Part 4—Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
9Act binds the Crown
In section 6(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, for "binds" substitute "and the regulations bind".
10Authority may accept undertakings
For section 16(3) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 substitute—
"(3)A person who gives an undertaking under this section must not contravene the undertaking.
Penalty:500 penalty units for a natural person;
2500 penalty units for a body corporate.
(4)Neither the Authority nor an inspector may bring a proceeding for an offence against this Act or the regulations constituted by the contravention or alleged contravention to which an undertaking relates—
(a)while the undertaking is in effect; or
(b)if the undertaking has been fully complied with and discharged.".
11Incidents to which this Part applies
In section 37(4) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004—
(a)in the definition of medical treatment, after "the medical" insert "or nursing or midwifery";
(b)for the definition of mine substitute—
"mine means—
(a)a workplace at which work is being performed under a licence within the meaning of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990—
(i)including work that is exploration (within the meaning of that Act), in the form of underground work of any kind or drilling from the surface for coal-bed methane; and
(ii)excluding work that is exploration carried out above ground, other than drilling from the surface for coal-bed methane; or
(b)all parts of a tourist mine that are underground and all infrastructure and plant associated with the underground workings;";
(c)insert the following definition—
"tourist mine means a mine, part of a mine, or any other location in which the principal activities conducted are those promoting interest in the practice and history of prospecting or mining.".
12Duty to notify of incidents
(1)In section 38(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, after "must" insert "not, without reasonable excuse, fail to".
(2)In section 38(5) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, for paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute—
"(a)in the case of a natural person, 240 penalty units; or
(b)in the case of a body corporate, 1200 penalty units.".
(3)After section 38(5) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 insert—
"(6)An offence against subsection (5) is an indictable offence.
Note
However, the offence may be heard and determined summarily (see section 28 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009).".
13Duty to preserve incident sites
(1)In section 39(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, after "must" insert "not, without reasonable excuse, fail to".
(2)For the penalty at the foot of section 39(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 substitute—
"Penalty:240 penalty units for a natural person;
1200 penalty units for a body corporate.".
(3)After section 39(2) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 insert—
"(3)An offence against subsection (1) is an indictable offence.
Note
However, the offence may be heard and determined summarily (see section 28 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009).".
14Service of provisional improvement notice or inspector's notice
(1)In section 64(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, for "workplace." substitute "workplace; or".
(2)After 64(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 insert—
"(d)sending it by electronic communication to the person at the person's usual or last known electronic address; or
(e)if the person is an employer registered under section 434 of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, sending it by post or electronic communication to the last address for service shown on a communication from the employer to the Authority.".
(3)At the end of section 64 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 insert—
"(2)A notice under this Division required or authorised to be issued or given to a body corporate may be served by—
(a)issuing or giving it to; or
(b)sending it by post or electronic communication to—
the body corporate at the head office, registered office or principal place of business of the body corporate.
(3)This section is in addition to, and not in derogation from, the Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984, the Electronic Transactions (Victoria) Act 2000 and sections 109X and 601CX of the Corporations Act.".
15Prohibition on discrimination
(1)In section 76(2)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, after "an inspector," insert "the Authority,".
(2)In section 76(2)(d) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, after "an inspector," insert "the Authority,".
16Prohibited reasons
(1)In section 78B(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, after "an inspector," insert "the Authority,".
(2)In section 78B(1)(d) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, after "an inspector," insert "the Authority,".
17Revocation and disqualification
In section 85(1)(a)(i) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 omit "an".
18Power to require production of documents etc.
(1)For the heading to section 100 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 substitute—
"Power to require production of documents and answers to questions".
(2)In section 100(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, after "may" insert "do any or all of the following".
(3)In section 100(1)(a) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 omit "located at the place that is in the person's possession or control".
(4)After section 100(4) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 insert—
"(5)Despite section 7 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009, a proceeding for an offence against this section must be commenced within 12 months after the date on which the Authority becomes aware that an offence has been committed.".
19Service of notices
(1)In section 115(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, for "workplace." substitute "workplace; or".
(2)After section 115(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 insert—
"(d)sending it by electronic communication to the person at the person's usual or last known electronic address; or
(e)if the person is an employer registered under section 434 of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, sending it by post or electronic communication to the last address for service shown on a communication from the employer to the Authority.".
(3)After section 115(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 insert—
"(1A)A notice under this Division required or authorised to be issued to a body corporate may be served by—
(a)issuing it to; or
(b)sending it by post or electronic communication to—
the body corporate at the head office, registered office or principal place of business of the body corporate.
(1B)This section is in addition to, and not in derogation from, the Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984, the Electronic Transactions (Victoria) Act 2000 and sections 109X and 601CX of the Corporations Act.".
20Proceedings may be brought by the Authority or inspectors
In section 130(1), (4) and (5) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, after "this Act" insert "or the regulations".
21Procedure if prosecution is not brought
In section 131(1)(a) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, after "this Act" insert "or the regulations".
22Limitation period for prosecutions
For section 132 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 substitute—
"132 Limitation period for prosecutions
(1)Proceedings for an indictable offence against this Act may be brought within the latest of the following periods to occur—
(a)within 2 years after the offence first comes to the notice of the Authority;
(b)within one year after a coronial report was made or a coronial inquiry or inquest ended, if it appeared from the report or the proceedings at the inquiry or inquest that an indictable offence had been committed against this Act;
(c)if an undertaking has been given under section 16 in relation to the offence, within 6 months after—
(i)the undertaking is contravened; or
(ii)it comes to the notice of the Authority that the undertaking has been contravened; or
(iii)the Authority has agreed under section 16(2) to the withdrawal of the undertaking;
(d)at any time with the written authorisation of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
(2)A proceeding for an indictable offence may be brought after the end of the applicable limitation period in subsection (1) if fresh evidence relevant to the offence is discovered and the court is satisfied that the evidence could not reasonably have been discovered within the relevant limitation period.".
23Release on the giving of a health and safety undertaking
In section 137(2)(b) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004—
(a)after "this Act," insert "the regulations,";
(b)after "Act 1985" insert "or regulations made under those Acts".
24Liability of officers of partnerships and unincorporated bodies or associations
In section 145(1)(a) and (2) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, after "this Act" insert "or the regulations".
25Offence to give false or misleading information
After section 153(2) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 insert—
"(3)An offence against subsection (1) or (2) is an indictable offence.
Note
However, the offence may be heard and determined summarily (see section 28 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009).".
26New Part 15 inserted
After Part 14 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 insert—
"Part 15—Transitional provisions
Division 1—WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act 2017
178Definitions
In this Division—
amending Act means the WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act 2017.
179Amendment of section 16 (Authority may accept undertakings)
This Act, as amended by section 10 of the amending Act, applies to all undertakings accepted by the Authority on or after the date on which section 10 of the amending Act comes into operation.
180Amendment of section 38 (Duty to notify incidents)
This Act, as amended by section 12 of the amending Act, applies to all offences against section 38 committed on or after the date on which section 12 of the amending Act comes into operation.
181Amendment of section 39 (Duty to preserve incident sites)
This Act, as amended by section 13 of the amending Act, applies to all offences against section 39 committed on or after the date on which section 13 of the amending Act comes into operation.
182Amendment of section 64 (Service of provisional improvement notice or inspector's notice)
This Act, as amended by section 14 of the amending Act, applies to all notices issued or given by the Authority under section 64 on or after the date on which section 14 of the amending Act comes into operation.
183Amendment of section 100 (Power to require production of documents etc.)
This Act, as amended by section 18 of the amending Act, applies to all offences against section 100 committed, or of which the Authority becomes aware, on or after the date on which section 18 of the amending Act comes into operation.
184Amendment of section 115 (Service of notices)
This Act, as amended by section 19 of the amending Act, applies to all notices issued by the Authority under section 115 on or after the date on which section 19 of the amending Act comes into operation.
185Amendment of section 132 (Limitation period for prosecutions)
This Act, as amended by section 22 of the amending Act, applies to all prosecutions commenced by the Authority on or after the date on which section 22 of the amending Act comes into operation.
186Amendment of section 153 (Offence to give false or misleading information)
This Act, as amended by section 25 of the amending Act, applies to all offences against section 153 committed on or after the date on which section 25 of the amending Act comes into operation.".
Part 5—Amendments to the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013
27Assessing degree of impairment of whole person
In section 63(5) of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, for "subsection (4)" substitute "subsection (4)(a)(i)".
28Part not to apply in certain circumstances
In section 101(2)(b) of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013—
(a)for "owner-builders' permits" substitute "certificates of consent";
(b)for "permits" substitute "certificates".
29Definition applying to pre-injury average weekly earnings and current weekly earnings—base rate of pay
(1)In section 156(1) of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, after "hours of work" insert "(including any casual loadings)".
(2)In section 156(1)(b) of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, after "loadings" insert "(excluding any casual loadings)".
30Liability of Authority and self-insurer
(1)In section 224(1)(c) of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, for "cremation." substitute "cremation; and".
(2)After section 224(1)(c) of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 insert—
"(d)reasonable travelling or accommodation expenses not exceeding $5000 incurred by family members of the worker in circumstances where—
(i)the injury is a severe injury for which immediate in-patient treatment in a hospital is received; and
(ii)the hospital is located at least 100 kilometres from the normal residence of the worker's family members; and
(e)reasonable travelling or accommodation expenses not exceeding $5000 incurred by family members of the worker in circumstances where—
(i)death results from the injury; and
(ii)a burial service or cremation service is held in respect of the worker; and
(iii)the service is held at least 100 kilometres from the normal residence of the
worker's family members; and
(iv)the travelling or accommodation expenses are incurred within Australia.".
31Certain persons not compelled to give evidence
After section 272(2) of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 insert—
"(3)A person referred to in subsection (1) is competent to give evidence in proceedings as to reasons for an opinion under Division 3 or to matters relating to the person's role and function as a Panel member but is not compelled to give such evidence.
(4)A person referred to in subsection (2) is competent to give evidence in any proceedings about the person's role as an expert retained by a Medical Panel to give advice but is not compelled to give such evidence.".
32Review of approval
After section 384(2)(c) of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 insert—
"(ca)the employer or an eligible subsidiary of the employer ceases to employ all of its workers; or".
33Eligible subsidiary of self-insurer becomes a non‑WorkCover employer
For section 409(3), (4), (5) and (6) of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 substitute—
"(3)On and from the date the employer becomes a non-WorkCover employer, the self-insurer retains liability for, and the responsibility for management of, the tail claims of the employer until the self-insurer ceases to be a self-insurer.
(4)In this section, tail claim of an employer that ceases to be an eligible subsidiary of a self-insurer means—
(a)a claim, regardless of when made, in respect of an injury or death incurred or suffered by a worker employed by the employer while the employer was an eligible subsidiary of a self-insurer and which entitles that worker, the dependants of that worker or the members of that worker's family to compensation or any other payments under this Act (other than section 576 or 578) or the Accident Compensation Act 1985 or damages at common law as permitted by and in accordance with Division 2 of Part 7 (other than sections 348 to 356 inclusive) or section 366 or section 134AB or 135C of the Accident Compensation Act 1985; or
(b)a claim of the employer that ceases to be an eligible subsidiary of the self‑insurer for which the self-insurer assumed liability for, and the responsibility for management of, under section 395, 396, 397 or 398.".
34Authority retains or assumes liability for tail claims
In section 414 of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013—
(a)in paragraph (b), for "employer; or" substitute "employer.";
(b)paragraph (c) is repealed.
35Functions of the Authority
In section 493(1)(zb)(ii) of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, for "cooperation" substitute "co-operation".
36Delegation
(1)In section 500(1) of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, after "other Act" insert ", or regulations made under this Act or any other Act,".
(2)After section 500(1) of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 insert—
"(1A)A delegation under subsection (1) may be made to a person, a class of persons, the holder of an office or position or the holder of each office in a class of offices specified in the instrument of delegation.".
37Indexation of certain amounts—consumer price index
In the Table to section 545 of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, after item 25 insert—
"25A Section 224(1)(d)—$5000 25B Section 224(1)(e)—$5000". 38Criminal liability of officers of bodies corporate—failure to exercise due diligence
Section 601(2)(x) of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 is repealed.
39Institution of prosecutions
After section 608(5) of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 insert—
"(5A)Despite any law to the contrary, a proceeding for an offence against Part 8 must be commenced within 12 months after the date on which the Authority becomes aware that an offence has been committed.".
40New sections 623G, 623H, 623I and 623J inserted
After section 623F of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 insert—
"623G Transitional provision—WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act 2017
This Act, as amended by section 29 of the WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act2017, applies to all claims made on or after the date on which section 29 of the WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act 2017 comes into operation.
623HTransitional provision—WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act 2017
This Act, as amended by section 30 of the WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act2017, applies to all claims made on or after the date on which section 30 of the WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act 2017 comes into operation.
623ITransitional provision—WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act 2017
This Act, as amended by section 39 of the WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act2017, applies to all offences against Part 8 committed, or of which the Authority becomes aware, on or after the date on which section 39 of the WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act 2017 comes into operation.
623JSavings provision—seafarers' claims
(1)This section applies to a claim for compensation made, and a premium collected or recovered under this Act that, but for Samson Maritime Pty Ltd v Noel Aucote [2014] FCAFC 182, would be a valid claim or validly collected or recovered premium in accordance with this Act.
(2)If a claim has been accepted by the Authority, then it is taken to be a valid claim in accordance with this Act.
(3)If a premium has been collected or recovered by the Authority then it is taken to be validly collected or recovered.
(4)Nothing in this section creates any new entitlement to compensation.".
Part 6—Repeal of amending Act
41Repeal of amending Act
This Act is repealed on the first anniversary of the date on which all of its provisions have come into operation.
Note
The repeal of this Act does not affect the continuing operation of the amendments made by it (see section 15(1) of the Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984).
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Endnotes
1 General information
See for Victorian Bills, Acts and current authorised versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.
Minister's second reading speech—
Legislative Assembly: 22 March 2017
Legislative Council: 23 June 2017
The long title for the Bill for this Act was "A Bill for an Act to amend the Accident Compensation Act 1985, the Dangerous Goods Act 1985, the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 to further improve the operation of those Acts and for other purposes."
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