Costs Committee

Call for submissions – Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 (Costs Determination)

Purpose

The Costs Committee gives notice of its intention to make a costs determination in accordance with section 271 of the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 (the Act).

The Costs Committee established under section 269 of the Act fixes maximum costs recoverable by legal practitioners and registered agents representing parties appearing before the WorkCover WA Dispute Resolution Directorate (the DRD). The Costs Committee has convened to review the Workers’ Compensation (Legal Practitioners and Registered Agents) Costs Determination 2005 (the Costs Determination or the costs scale), which came into effect on 14 November 2005.

Process

The Costs Committee is primarily seeking to benchmark the hours required to progress applications before the DRD and to also review the hourly rate prescribed to determine maximum costs. However, the Costs Committee welcomes submissions from interested parties on all aspects of the current Costs Determination, including but not limited to the structure of the costs scale and the interpretive notes provided. The Costs Committee will consider submissions received from all interested parties in reviewing the Costs Determination.

Submissions

Any person, organisation or association may make written submissions in respect of the proposed Costs Determination. Written submissions should be forwarded to the Costs Committee’s Executive Officer, Ms Eva Harte, at WorkCover WA, 2 Bedbrook Place, Shenton Park WA 6008 or email to eva.harte@workcover.wa.gov.au. The submissions deadline is close of business on Wednesday, 18July 2007. Late submissions may be considered at the discretion of the Costs Committee. Please contact Ms Harte on (08) 9388 5578 should you wish to request an extension.

All submissions received must be relevant to the costs scale and strictly within the Cost Committee’s jurisdiction.

Click here to access a copy of the current Costs Determination.