EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992
Issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Notice of a Disallowable Instrument
Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation
(Specified Rate per Kilometre) Notice 2008 (1)
The purpose of the instrument to which this Explanatory Statement relates is to specify the cents per kilometre for travel expenses payable under paragraphs 28(6A)(b), 49(6B)(b), 50(2B)(b) and sub-sections 66(4B) and 83A(5) of the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992 (the Seafarers Act).
Paragraphs 28(6A)(b), 49(6B)(b), 50(2B)(b) and sub-sections 66(4B) and 83A(5) of the Seafarers Act provides that where an injured employee makes a return journey exceeding 50 kilometres to obtain medical treatment, for the assessment and undertaking of a rehabilitation program or for the purposes of medical examinations for liability or reconsideration, in respect of the injury and compensation is payable in respect of that injury, the employer 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 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 has been increased by 13 cents from the rate specified for journeys on or after 10 March 2004. This rate has been calculated with respect to the 28.4% increase in the Consumer Price Index measuring annual motoring costs ending with the March 2008 quarter.