Workers’ compensation disputes are to be resolved faster and more efficiently following new laws now passed by Parliament.
Minister for Workplace Safety, Ingrid Stitt said the reforms allowed the Accident Compensation Conciliation Service to hear and make binding determinations on disputes not resolved by conciliation.
“This provides Victorians injured on the job with a simpler and cheaper way to resolve disputes, sparing them the cost, time and stress of going to court,” Ms Stitt said.
“Workers will be able to have their dispute arbitrated by the conciliation service in an informal manner – and more quickly than it takes to conclude most court proceedings,” she said.
Ms Stitt said that under the laws, a hearing must start within 30 days of the dispute being referred to arbitration.
She said that once an application for arbitration began, a hearing would generally finish within 60 days and a determination would be made within two weeks of the hearing’s conclusion.
“With the cost and complexity of court proceedings previously deterring many workers from pursuing their dispute, the new laws ensure that more Victorians will have their matter heard and reach a resolution that works for them,” she said.
“This means less stress, fairer outcomes, and better recovery for injured workers.”
Ms Stitt said the reforms would also help to free up court capacity and boost efficiency by diverting suitable claims away from the court system.
