Bills Digest no. 63 1976
Compensation (Commonwealth Government Employees) Amendment Bill 1976
WARNING:
This Digest was prepared for debate. It reflects the legislation as introduced
and does not canvass subsequent amendments. This Digest does not have
any official legal status. Other sources should be consulted to determine
the subsequent official status of the Bill.
CONTENTS
Passage History
Purpose
Provisions
Contact Officer & Copyright Details
Passage History
1. Compensation (Commonwealth
Government Employees) Amendment Bill 1976
2. Seaman’s Compensation Amendment Bill 1976
3. United States Naval Communication Station (Civilian Employees) Amendment
Bill 1976
Date introduced: 30 November 1976
House: House of Representatives (from the Senate)
Purpose
The main purpose of these Bills is to provide for increases in benefits
payable to those persons covered by the Principal Acts.
Provisions
All Bills
-
weekly compensation for
total incapacity is increased by $23 (from $57 to $80) (payable after
26 weeks on full pay to those covered by the Act amended by Bill 1
above); the weekly supplement for a dependent spouse is increased
by $6 ($15 to $21) and the dependent child’s allowance by $3 ($7 to
$10). The ceiling for partial incapacity payments is also increased
from $57 to $80.
-
the lump sum payable to dependents where an injury
has resulted in death is increased by $5,000 (from $20,000 to $25,000);
weekly payments to a dependent child of a deceased person are increased
by $3 ($7 to $10), with the minimum total amount payable to such a
child being increased by $300 ($700 to $1,000); the maximum payable
for funeral expenses will increase by $200 ($450 to $650).
-
the maximum lump sum amount
payable for injuries will increase by $5,000 ($20,000 to $25,000);
all other lump sum payments will be increased similarly by 25%.
-
the Bills also make minor
amendments of a formal or technical nature in keeping with current
drafting practice but which make no changes of substance.
Bills1 and 3 only
-
the maximum amount payable
for alterations to buildings or vehicles, or repair or replacement
of certain aids and appliances will be increased by $200 ($500 to
$700).
Bill 1 only
-
in line with section 135D of the Social Services Act, persons receiving
compensation benefits are to be paid a training allowance which, if
any, is the amount by which the person’s normal weekly compensation
benefit is less than the weighted average minimum wage appropriate
to his age.
-
changes the citation of
the Principal Act from Compensation (Australian Government Employees)
Act 1971 to Compensation (Commonwealth Government Employees) Act 1971.
Bill 2 only
-
removes the limit of $1,000
on the amount of compensation payable in respect of medical and ambulance
services.
-
removes the time limit
of twelve months in which to claim damages and therefore ordinary
time limits for actions for damages will apply.
-
changes the definition
of a “child” who may receive payments as a dependent to include children
between 16 and 21 years who are full time students not ordinarily
in employment.
-
these three amendments
will bring the Principal Act into line with the Compensation (Commonwealth
Government Employees) Act 1971.
Bill 3 only
-
provides for the citation of the Compensation (Commonwealth
Government Employees) Act 1971 (see Bill 1); this change ensures that
the increased rates provided for in Bill 1 will also be available
to civilians employed by the United States Navy at the Naval Communications
Station at North West Cape.
Bills 2 and 3 only
-
the amendments in these
two Bills will not involve any cost to the Commonwealth Government
as the payments are the responsibility of the shipowners and the United
States Government respectively.
The Bills are back dated to take effect from 1
September 1976.
Education and Welfare Group
2 December 1976
Bills Digest Service
Information and Research Services
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using information available at the time of production. The views expressed
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ISSN 1328-8091
© Commonwealth of Australia 2006
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Published by the Parliamentary Library, 2006.
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