Table of Contents

Terms of Reference

Submissions

Preface

SECTION 1. SCOPE OF THE INQUIRY

I. TERMS OF REFERENCE

II. "NO-FAULT" COMPENSATION

III. POSSIBLE APPROACHES TO REFORM

IV. OTHER COMPENSATION SYSTEMS

V. QUALIFICATIONS TO THE TERMS OF REFERENCE

A. Illness

B. Prevention and Rehabilitation

Footnotes

SECTION 2. BACKGROUND TO THE INQUIRY

I. WHY IS AN INQUIRY TIMELY?

A. Judicial Criticism of the Common Law Negligence Action

1. The Discount Rate

2. Pleas for Reform


B. Financial Pressures on Insurers

1. Compulsory Third Party Motor Vehicle Insurance

2. Workers' Compensation Insurance


C. The Emergence of No-Fault Road Accident Schemes

D. Community Concern


1. The Media

2. Community Groups and Government Bodies

Footnotes

SECTION 3. EXISTING COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS

I. INTRODUCTION

II. THE COMMON LAW NEGLIGENCE ACTION

A. Liability

1. The Fault Principle

2. Statutory Extensions of Liability

3. Compulsory Insurance


B. Damages

1. Assessment of Damages

2. Recent Changes in the Law of Assessment of Damages


C. Criticism of the Common Law Action

1. The Fault Principle

2. Assessment of Damages


D. Support for the Common Law Negligence Action

1. Background

2. Grounds for Support

A. Introduction

B. The Present Scheme


1. Basic Principles

2. Coverage of the Scheme

3. Compensation Payable

4. Workers' Compensation and Common Law Actions

5. Redemptions

6. Insurance Arrangements

7. Workers' Compensation Commission


C. Criticism of the Workers' Compensation System

1. Introduction

2. Criticisms

A. Background

B. The Statutory Scheme in New South Wales

C. The "Ex Gratia" Scheme

D. Criticisms

A. Background

B. The Scheme

C. Criticisms

A. Invalid Pensions

B. Sickness Benefits

C. Other Benefits and Allowances

D. Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service

SECTION 4. ACCIDENTS AND COMPENSATION - SOME STATISTICS

I. INTRODUCTION

A. The Three-Fold Classification

B. The Quality of Statistical Information

A. Extent of Death and Injury

B. Compulsory Third Party Motor Vehicle Insurance


1. Premiums and Claims

2. The Financial Basis of Compulsory Third Party Insurance

3. Premiums Rates

4. Costs of Administering the Third Party Insurance System

5. Proportion of Road Accident Victims Recovering Compensation

A. Extent of Death and Injury

B The Workers' Compensation Insurance System


1. Premiums

2. Claims Paid

3. The Financial Position of Insurers

4. Administrative Costs of the System

A. Extent of Death and Injury

B. Sources of Compensation

SECTION 5. SOME MODELS FOR CHANGE

I. THE RANGE OF OPTIONS

II. THE FIRST APPROACH-MODIFICATIONS TO EXISTING SYSTEMS

A. The Common Law Negligence Action

1. Periodic Payments

2. Non-pecuniary Loss

3. Assessment of Damages Generally


B. Workers' Compensation

1. Extension of Coverage

2. A Single Insurer

3. Modification of Adversary Proceedings

4. Benefits

5. Lump Sum Redemptions


C. Criminal Injuries

A. Introduction

B. The Victorian and Tasmanian Schemes


1. The Arguments for No-Fault Road Accident Schemes

2. The Victorian Scheme

3. The Tasmanian Scheme

A. Introduction

B. The Northern Territory Scheme


1. Arguments for a No-Fault Road Accident Scheme Replacing the Common Law

2. The Scheme

A. Introduction

B. The New Zealand Scheme and Australian Proposals


1. The Underlying Principles

2. The New Zealand Scheme

3. The Woodhouse Committee's Proposals for Australia

4. The Fate of the Woodhouse Proposals

5. The Significance of the Woodhouse Proposals

6. The Feasibility of a Comprehensive No-Fault Scheme

SECTION 6. SOME POLICY QUESTIONS

I. SUMMARY OF EXISTING COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS

A. The Current Systems

B. Their Cost

C. Their Main Features

A. General Questions

B. No-Fault Accident Compensation

C. Existing Systems - The Common Law

D. Existing Systems - Workers' Compensation

E. Existing Systems - Criminal Injuries

TABLE OF CASES

TABLE OF STATUTES

LIST OF TABLES