Northern Territory Second Reading Speeches
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WORK HEALTH AMENDMENT BILL 2000
(This an uncorrected proof of the daily report. It is made available under the condition that it is recognised as such.)
Mr Speaker, since January 1992, the Work Health Act has, for the purposes of workers’ compensation coverage, defined a worker, in short, as a person who has pay as you earn, PAYE, tax deducted from their earnings by their employer.
This has provided the Territory with a very practical worker definition that is the envy of other Australian workers compensation jurisdictions. In this regard the work health definition provides coverage for those persons who are traditionally covered for workers’ compensation, but with the advantage of being clear and concise, thereby avoiding litigation over the common law concept of a worker, which plagues the other Australian workers compensation jurisdictions.
Honourable members will be aware that, as of 1 July 2000, a new federal tax regime will commence. This change will, amongst other things, introduce the new pay as you go, PAYG, income tax system which will replace 11 existing systems including the pay as you earn, PAYE, income tax system.
This will, as from 1 July 2000, render the current worker definition defunct. The bill therefore provides an amended definition of a worker for the purposes of the Work Health Act.
The bill utilises the Australian Business Number, ABN, legislation to provide a definition that is designed to ensure coverage that is as close as is practicable to that of the existing definition, as well as retaining its clear and concise properties.
I commend the bill to honourable members.
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