On or about Christmas day 2017, the sharp edge of the New South
Wales Government changes to the Workers Compensation Scheme
announced in June 2012, will take effect.
The changes to the scheme announced in June 2012, effectively
provide that for most workers, the scheme will only provide weekly
compensation payments for a maximum period of 260 weeks. There is
an exemption to this rule in respect of workers who have a whole
person impairment of more than 20%.
For workers off work at the time of the announcement of the
changes, the commencement of the 260 week period was 1 January
2013, and accordingly, the expiration of that period will fall due
at or about Christmas day 2017 for many thousands of injured
workers in New South Wales. For workers injured after January 2013,
the 260 week period would commence on the day they became
incapacitated for work.
