Injuries and accidents in the workplace require mandatory
reporting and are closely monitored. An administrative oversight to
maintain workers compensation insurance is also a crime that has
recently become more easy to detect.
In Western Australia an employer who allows employees to work
for any amount of time while a current worker's compensation
policy is not in place can be prosecuted, under a strict liability
offence regime. If found guilty, the employer will be made to pay
the amount of the avoided premium plus a hefty fine. If a Company
is prosecuted the fine imposed by a Court can be up to $25,000 per
uninsured worker. Where a natural person is prosecuted the maximum
fine is $5,000 per affected worker and the person faces receiving a
criminal record which can have serious implications for their
travel, future employment opportunities (including volunteer
positions at sports clubs etc) and even things like eligibility for
IVF treatments. WorkCover WA
