Summary

Part of a package of three bills in relation to the Seacare scheme, the bill amends the: Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992 to: introduce a new test to clarify coverage of the Seacare scheme; and implement amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention relating to insurance obligations of employers of seafarers; Seafarers, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 to: align workers’ compensation arrangements for the Seacare and Comcare schemes with minimum benchmarks to be set by the proposed National Injury Insurance Scheme; and ensure that persons in receipt of incapacity payments can continue to receive those payments until they reach pension age; Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to clarify the application of the Act; and Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992 and Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to make consequential amendments. Also: repeals the Financial Management and Accountability (Establishment of Special Account) Determination 2002/06, Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) Act 1993, Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Levy Act 1992 and Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Levy Collection Act 1992; and integrates the functions currently performed by the Seacare Authority into Comcare, abolishes the Seacare Authority and splits the functions between Comcare and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (SRCC), and enables an advisory group to be appointed to support the SRCC and Comcare.