A case summary of Ethnic Interpreters v Saeed
Sabri-Matanagh [2015] WASCA 186
This was an appeal against an award made in favour of the
claimant (respondent) Mr Sabri-Matanagh, an interpreter who had
been injured as a result of an assault on 22 October 2011 during
the course of his employment on Christmas Island.
The appellant (employer) had disputed that compensation was
payable under the Workers' Compensation and Injury
Management Act 1981 (WA)(CI) (WCIM Act) on
the basis that the employment was not connected to the Territory
(Christmas Island).
On 3 October 2013, the appellant had brought an application in
the District Court of WA under s23C of the WCIM Act seeking an
order that the claimant's employment was connected with New
South Wales. Chief Judge Martino in the District Court decided that
the employment was connected with Christmas Island, (which pursuant
to the Christmas Island Act 1958 (Cth)(CI Act), meant with
WA) and dismissed the application.
