Commonwealth Employees' Compensation Act 1967

Legislation au C1967A00096 Not in force Act

Legislation content

Commonwealth Employees Compensation

No. 96 of 1967

An Act to increase certain amounts of Compensation payable to Employees of the Commonwealth and to amend the Commonwealth Employees Compensation Act 19301964 in relation to Decimal Currency

[Assented to 9 November 1967]

BE it enacted by the Queens Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia,. as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Commonwealth Employees Compensation Act 1967.

(2.) The Commonwealth Employees Compensation Act 1930-1964 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Commonwealth Employees Compensation Act 1930-1967.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Medical benefits.

3. Section 11 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from sub-section (2b.) the words Five hundred pounds and inserting in their stead the words One thousand dollars.

Compensation for certain injuries.

4. Section 12 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting sub-section; (1.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-sections:—

“(1.) Subject to this Act, where an employee sustains, by accident: arising out of or in the course of his employment, any of the injuries specified in Part I. of the Third Schedule to this Act, the compensation payable shall, when the injury results in incapacity other than total and permanent incapacity for work, be the amount of Ten thousand dollars.

(1aa.) Subject to this Act, where an employee sustains, by accident, arising out of or in the course of his employment, any of the injuries specified in the first column of Part II. of the Third Schedule to this Act, the compensation payable shall, when the injury results in incapacity other than total and permanent incapacity for work, be the amount equal to such percentage of the amount specified in the last preceding sub-section. as is specified in the second column of that Part opposite the specification of the injury in the first column..

Maximum compensation.

5. Section 13 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from sub-section (1.) the words Four thousand three hundred pounds and inserting in their stead the words Ten thousand dollars.


First Schedule.

6. The First Schedule to the Principal Act is amended as set out in the following table:—

Provision amended

Omit—

Insert-

Paragraph (1.) (a) (i)........

Four thousand three hundred pounds

Ten thousand dollars

Paragraph (1.) (a) (iii).......

Sixty pounds

One hundred and twenty dollars

Paragraph (1.) (b)..........

Eleven pounds eleven shillings

Twenty-five dollars thirty-five cents

Paragraph (1.) (b) (i)........

Two pounds fourteen shillings and sixpence

Six dollars

Paragraph (1.) (b) (ii).......

One pound two shillings and sixpence

Two dollars forty-five cents

Paragraph (1.) (c) (i)........

Eleven pounds eleven shillings

Twenty-five dollars thirty-five cents

Paragraph (1a.) (a) (ii).......

Seven hundred pounds

One thousand six hundred and fifty dollars

Paragraph (1a.) (b) (iii)......

Eight pounds thirteen shillings and threepence

Nineteen dollars

 

Eleven pounds eleven shillings

Twenty-five dollars thirty-five cents

Paragraph (9a.)...........

than One hundred pounds

and One hundred pounds

than Two hundred dollars

and Two hundred dollars

Third Schedule.

7. The Third Schedule to the Principal Act is repealed and the Schedule set out in the Schedule to this Act inserted in its stead.

Adjustment of weekly payments, &c., under prior Acts.

8.—(1.) Where, immediately before the date of commencement of this Act, a person was receiving weekly payments under the Commonwealth Workmens Compensation Act 1912 or was receiving, or was entitled to receive, weekly payments in accordance with the First Schedule to the Principal Act, he is, from and including that date, entitled to receive weekly payments in accordance with the Principal Act as amended this by Act.

(2.) Where, before the date of commencement of this Act, an employee sustained an injury or contracted a disease in respect of which weekly payments in accordance with the First Schedule to the Principal Act would have been payable immediately before that date but for the fact that he was not then incapacitated for work, and on or after that date he becomes incapacitated for work as a result of the injury or disease, weekly payments in respect of that incapacity shall be in accordance with the Principal Act as amended by this Act.

(3.) Where, on or after the date of commencement of this Act, death results from an injury or a disease that was sustained or contracted before that date and in respect of which compensation was payable under the Principal Act, compensation shall be paid in respect of that death in accordance with the Principal Act as amended by this Act.

(4.) Where, immediately before the date of commencement of this Act, an employee was receiving, or was entitled to receive, weekly payments in accordance with the First Schedule to the Principal Act in respect of an injury or injuries sustained or a disease contracted before that date, the provisions of section 13 of the Principal Act as amended by this Act apply in relation to the injury, injuries or disease.

(5.) The amendments made by sections 4 and 7 of this Act apply in relation to an injury sustained on or after the date of commencement of this Act notwithstanding that the accident or disease that caused the injury occurred before that date.


THE SCHEDULE Sections 4 and 7.

 

Schedule Inserted in the Principal Act by this Act

THE THIRD SCHEDULE Section 12.

 

Part I.

Injuries in respect of which the Amount of Compensation Specified in Section 12 (1.) is Payable

 

Loss of both eyes

Loss of an only useful eye, the other being blind or absent

Loss of both hands

Loss of hand and foot

Loss of both feet

 

Part II.

Injuries in respect of which a Percentage of the Amount of Compensation Specified in Section 12 (1.) is Payable

First Column

Second Column

Nature of Injury

Percentage

Loss of one eye, with serious diminution of the sight of the other........................

75

Loss of one eye.........................................................

40

Loss of hearing.........................................................

70

Complete deafness of one ear................................................

20

Loss of right arm or greater part of right arm......................................

80

Loss of left arm or greater part of left arm.......................................

72

Loss of lower part of right arm, right hand or five fingers of right hand....................

70

Loss of lower part of left arm, left hand or five fingers of left hand.......................

63

Loss of right thumb......................................................

30

Loss of left thumb.......................................................

27

Loss of right forefinger....................................................

20

Loss of left forefinger.....................................................

18

Loss of right middle finger.................................................

16

Loss of left middle finger..................................................

15

Loss of right ring finger...................................................

14

Loss of left ring finger....................................................

13

Loss of right little finger...................................................

13

Loss of left little finger....................................................

12

Loss of total movement of joint of right thumb....................................

14

Loss of total movement of joint of left thumb.....................................

13

Loss of distal phalanx or joint of right thumb.....................................

16

Loss of distal phalanx or joint of left thumb......................................

15

Loss of portion of terminal segment of right thumb involving one-third of its flexor surface without loss of distal phalanx or joint             

14

Loss of portion of terminal segment of left thumb involving one-third of its flexor surface without loss of distal phalanx or joint             

13

Loss of two phalanges or joints of right forefinger..................................

12

Loss of two phalanges or joints of left forefinger...................................

11

Loss of two phalanges or joints of right middle or ring finger...........................

11

Loss of two phalanges or joints of left middle or ring finger............................

10

Loss of two phalanges or joints of right little finger.................................

10

Loss of two phalanges or joints of left little finger..................................

9

Loss of distal phalanx or joint of right forefinger...................................

10

Loss of distal phalanx or joint of left forefinger....................................

9

Loss of distal phalanx or joint of other finger of right hand............................

8

Loss of distal phalanx or joint of other finger of left hand.............................

7

Loss of leg above knee....................................................

75

Loss of leg below knee....................................................

65

Loss of foot...........................................................

60

Loss of great toe........................................................

20

Loss of any other toe.....................................................

8

Loss of two phalanges or joints of any other toe....................................

7

Loss of phalanx or joint of great toe...........................................

10

Loss of phalanx or joint of any other toe........................................

6

 

Overview

The Commonwealth Employees’ Compensation Act 1967 was enacted to address the need for updating compensation amounts payable to Commonwealth employees due to the transition to decimal currency. This Act, assented to on 9 November 1967, amended the Commonwealth Employees’ Compensation Act 1930-1964 to adjust compensation amounts and medical benefits to reflect the new currency system. The policy objective was to ensure that compensation for injuries sustained in the course of employment remained fair and adequate under the new monetary framework. The Act increased the maximum compensation amounts for specific injuries and adjusted related benefits to maintain the integrity of the compensation system. The Commonwealth Employees’ Compensation Act 1967 was enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. The amendments introduced by this Act aimed to provide necessary adjustments in compensation figures, ensuring they aligned with the economic changes brought about by the decimal currency reform. This legislative update was crucial for maintaining the relevance and effectiveness of the compensation provisions for Commonwealth employees.

Scope and Application

The Commonwealth Employees’ Compensation Act 1967 applies to employees of the Commonwealth who sustain injuries arising out of or in the course of their employment. This includes all federal public sector employees working across various industries and roles within the Australian government. The Act amends the Commonwealth Employees’ Compensation Act 1930-1964 to adjust compensation amounts to decimal currency and modifies the conditions and rates of compensation for specific injuries. It has a national jurisdictional reach as it is a Commonwealth Act. There are no explicit exclusions or thresholds mentioned in the text, but the Act does specify different compensation rates for various types of injuries, as detailed in the Third Schedule. The Act extends its application through subordinate instruments, such as amendments to the Principal Act, to ensure that compensation practices are updated and aligned with current legislative standards.

Key Provisions

The Commonwealth Employees’ Compensation Act 1967 (C1967A00096) amends the Commonwealth Employees’ Compensation Act 1930-1964, updating the compensation amounts and clarifying the conditions under which compensation is payable. Key provisions include amendments to medical benefits and compensation for injuries sustained during employment. Under Section 3 of the Act, the monetary threshold for medical benefits has been updated from Five hundred pounds to One thousand dollars. This change affects the eligibility and amount of compensation for medical expenses incurred due to work-related accidents. Section 4 revises the compensation amounts for specific injuries, specifying that for certain injuries listed in the Third Schedule, the compensation payable is Ten thousand dollars if the injury results in incapacity other than total and permanent incapacity for work. It also introduces a percentage-based compensation system for other injuries, where the compensation is a specified percentage of the Ten thousand dollars amount. The Act imposes specific obligations on Commonwealth employees and employers, primarily ensuring that employees who suffer work-related injuries are entitled to updated compensation amounts. Employers must adhere to the new compensation rates as stipulated in the Act, and employees must report injuries and provide necessary documentation to claim compensation. The Act also ensures that those who were receiving or entitled to receive payments under prior legislation continue to receive benefits according to the updated provisions. This continuity is addressed in Section 8, which mandates that payments to individuals who were receiving compensation immediately before the Act's commencement continue under the amended Principal Act. Breaches of the Act may lead to civil or criminal consequences, although the Act itself does not specify offences, penalties, or maximum penalties. Generally, failure to comply with the compensation provisions could result in legal action by affected employees, potentially leading to court-ordered penalties or compensation awards. Employers found to be non-compliant with the compensation obligations may also face legal scrutiny and penalties under relevant employment and workers' compensation laws. It is important for both employers and employees to understand and adhere to the updated provisions to avoid potential legal repercussions.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Compensation Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Repeal & Amendment
Compensation for certain injuries

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.