EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988
Issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Notice of a Disallowable Instrument
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation
(Specified Rate per Kilometre) Notice 2008 (3)
The purpose of the instrument to which this Explanatory Statement relates is to specify the cents per kilometre for travel expenses payable under section 16 of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (the SRC Act).
Section 16 of the SRC Act provides that where an injured employee makes a return journey exceeding 50 kilometres to obtain medical treatment in respect of the injury and compensation is payable in respect of that injury, Comcare is liable to pay an amount calculated by multiplying the kilometres travelled by the rate per kilometre specified, by legislative instrument, by the Minister.
The instrument is a legislative instrument subject to the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
The instrument specifies a rate of $0.60 per kilometre for journeys on or after 1 July 2008. It also specifies rates for journeys in earlier periods that are the same as the rates specified for those periods by the previous instrument that will be revoked by this instrument.
The rate for journeys on and after 1 July 2008 is an increase of 13 cents from the rate specified for journeys on or after 1 July 2003. This increase has been based on the 28.4% movement in the Consumer Price Index measuring annual movement in motoring costs ending with the March 2008 quarter.