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ARTICLE · 19 NOVEMBER 2013

How Recent Amendments To Workers’ Compensation Laws Will Affect The QLD Agribusiness Industry

Holding Redlich
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Amendments to the law are designed to reduce workers’ compensation costs for all employers in Queensland.

AustraliaEmployment and HR
Brian Healey
Brian Healey
Paul Hardman (Formerly With Holding Redlich)
Paul Hardman (Formerly With Holding Redlich)
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In October 2013, the Newman government made further amendments to the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld) (Act) designed to reduce workers' compensation costs for all employers in Queensland.

The latest amendments follow on from a change in the definition of who is a "worker" for compensation purposes under the Act, which commenced on 1 July 2013 and clarified the status of sole trader contractors by aligning the definition of "worker" with that of an "employee" for the purposes of withholding PAYG tax under the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Cth).  

The key amendments

The key amendments to the Act include:

  • preventing workers whose injury is assessed with a degree of permanent impairment of 5% or less from making a claim for common law damages

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