EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by the authority of the
Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988
Persons taken to be employed by the Commonwealth
The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (the Act) provides workers’ compensation coverage for employees of the Commonwealth public sector.
Subsection 5(6A) of the Act provides that the Minister may, by notice in writing, declare that particular classes of persons may be taken to be employees for the purposes of the Act.
The particular classes of persons specified in subsection 5(6A) of the Act are those who:
(a) hold an honorary rank in the Defence Force; or
(b) are members of a philanthropic organisation that provides services to the Defence Force; or
(c) undertake resettlement training under an arrangement made by the Defence Force.
The Act does not currently apply to the classes of persons outlined above.
It is appropriate that persons who perform acts for and on behalf of the Commonwealth, through a connection with, or in, the Australian Defence Force, have workers’ compensation coverage under the Act.
Accordingly the declaration by the Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business under the Act will ensure that it applies to these classes of persons when they perform such acts.
This declaration will take effect from the date of Gazettal.
TONY ABBOTT