1967- Woodhouse Report recommends comprehensive 24 hour cover, no fault scheme for compensation of personal injury. Benefits to relate to earnings. Workers' compensation system dismantled and the right to sue for damages removed.

1972 Accident Compensation Act establishes Earners' & Motor Vehicle Accident Schemes. Accident Compensation Commission established to administer both schemes.

1973 - Accident Compensation Amendment Act (No 2) extends coverage of principal Act to all persons not covered by the two existing schemes.

1974 - Accident Compensation Commission up and running.

1979 - Government Committee set up to review the Act since 1974, chaired by Derek Quigley MP.

1982 Accident Compensation Act:
 pay-as-you-go funding
 employers' obligations drops from 100% to 80% for first week following a work accident.

1991 - Budget night announcement "ACC - A Fairer Scheme".

1992 Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Act:
 scheme separated into different accounts ;
 earners premium introduced;
 experience rating discounts and loadings for employers;
 entitlements specified in regulations;
 weekly compensation calculation specified;
 lump sum entitlements replaced by Independence Allowance;
 Accident Compensation Appeal Authority scrapped - District Court takes over its role

1992 – 1995: various minor amendments to 1992 Act made.
(1995/96 employer premiums = $2.18 per $100 wages or salary)

1996 Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Amendment Act (No 2) 1996
(1996/97 employer premiums = $2.55)
 independence allowance assessed using the AMA Guides
 rates increased
 Work Capacity Assessment Procedure;
 ACC now able to purchase health and rehabilitation services;
 some minor changes to the calculation of weekly compensation;
 changes to rehabilitation allowing flexibility and discretion.

1998 Accident Insurance Act
(1997/98 ACC employer premiums = $2.67)
 Employers Account now managed by private insurers. ACC not allowed in this market. Self employed allowed to choose to stay with ACC;
 Office of the Accident Insurance Regulator established to oversee the private market;
 ACC split into business units
 all accounts (excluding non earners) moved back to full funding;
 objectives of rehabilitation changed

1999 Accident Insurance Amendment Act and Accident Insurance (Transitional Provisions) Acts: (1998/99 Employer premiums = $1.42- 1999/2000private market employer premiums = $1.21)
 restored ACC as the sole provider of workplace accident insurance;
 provided the framework for ACC to introduce the Partnership Plan and the Safety Management Practices products.

2000 Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Bill introduced
(2000/01 employer premiums = $1.16)

2001 (2001/02 employer premiums = .90 c)
(please note- because ACC is so incredibly complicated these rates can change with interpretation!)

© Scoop Media