New South Wales Consolidated Acts

WORKPLACE INJURY MANAGEMENT AND WORKERS COMPENSATION ACT 1998 - SECT 42B

42B Claims assistance

(1) The Authority may provide assistance ( "claims assistance") to injured workers and employers in connection with claims for compensation and work injury damages.

(2) In particular the Authority may establish an advisory service to provide claims assistance.

(3) The Authority may provide funds to fund the provision of claims assistance by organisations representing employers or employees, including by means of the establishment of an advisory service to provide claims assistance.

(4) Funds may only be provided within a period of 1 year after the commencement of this section ( "the initial period"). However, funds may be provided for a period of 2 years following the expiry of the initial period ( "the additional period") if, before the expiry of the initial period, both Houses of Parliament pass a resolution approving the provision of funds during the additional period.

The following resolution was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 31.10.2002 and the Legislative Council on 13.11.2002:
That in accordance with section 42B (4) of the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 , this House approves funds being provided for an additional period of 2 years to fund the provision of claims assistance by organisations representing employers or employees to help them assist their members understand and comply with the new workers compensation and occupational health and safety legislation.

(5) Before the Authority first provides any funds under this section, the Authority is to:

(a) advertise in a newspaper circulating in New South Wales for expressions of interest from organisations to provide claims assistance, and

(b) publish in the Gazette the name of each organisation to which the Authority intends to provide funds, the amount of funding to be provided and a description of the claims assistance that the organisation is to provide.

(6) Within 1 month after the expiry of the initial period, a statement is to be laid before each House of Parliament setting out:

(a) the name of each organisation to which funds have been provided under this section, and

(b) the amount paid to each organisation, and

(c) a description of the claims assistance provided by the organisation.