{"id":"insurance-commission-of-western-australia-act-1986","name":"Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986","slug":"insurance-commission-of-western-australia-act-1986","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":30743,"registerId":"wa-insurance-commission-of-western-australia-act-1986-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nInsurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986\n\nWestern Australia\n\nInsurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986\n\nContents\n\nPart I — Preliminary\n\n1. Short title 2\n\n2. Commencement 2\n\n3. Terms used 2\n\n3A. Eligible community organisations 4\n\nPart II — Insurance Commission of Western Australia\n\nDivision 1 — The Commission and the board of commissioners\n\n4. Insurance Commission of Western Australia: corporate identity and status 5\n\n4A. Agent of Crown 5\n\n5. Board of commissioners 6\n\nDivision 2 — Functions and powers of the Commission\n\n6. Functions 7\n\n7. Powers 8\n\n8. Commission to act efficiently and economically 10\n\n9. Delegation 11\n\n10. Directions by Minister 11\n\n10A. Minister to have access to information 11\n\n10B. Confidential information 12\n\nDivision 3 — Staff of the Commission\n\n11. Managing director 13\n\n12. Appointment of staff and consultants 14\n\n12A. Status of managing director and officers and employees of Commission 14\n\n13. Use of staff and facilities of departments and instrumentalities 15\n\n13A. Use of staff and facilities of insurer 15\n\n14. Superannuation 16\n\nDivision 3A — Strategic development plan and statement of corporate intent\n\n14A. Duty to observe policy instruments 16\n\n14B. Strategic development plan and statement of corporate intent 17\n\n14C. Laying directions about strategic development plan or statement of corporate intent before Parliament 18\n\nDivision 4 — Financial provisions relating to the Commission\n\nSubdivision A — Income, expenditure and property of the Commission\n\n15. Moneys available to Commission 19\n\n16. Establishment and composition of Funds 20\n\n17. Apportionment of income, expenditure and assets 23\n\n18. Transfer between Funds 24\n\nSubdivision Aa — Investment and property management\n\n19. Arrangements for appointment of investment managers 25\n\n19A. Investment policy 25\n\nSubdivision B — Financial administration, audit and reporting\n\n20. Application of *Financial Management Act 2006* and *Auditor General Act 2006* to Commission 26\n\n21. Provisions and reserves 26\n\n22. Accounts 26\n\n23. Annual reports, financial statements 26\n\nSubdivision C — Borrowing and financial accommodation\n\n24. Power to borrow etc., generally 27\n\n25. Power to make provision to pay off loans 27\n\n26. Borrowing power, from Treasury sources 28\n\n27. Specific State guarantees 28\n\nSubdivision D — Dividends to State\n\n28. Interim dividend 29\n\n29. Annual dividend 30\n\n30. Provisions for s. 28 and 29 31\n\n31. Transitional provisions for *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Amendment Act 2013*: interim dividends 32\n\n32. Transitional provisions for *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Amendment Act 2013*: annual dividends 33\n\nPart IV — General\n\n42. Secrecy 35\n\n43. Execution of documents and entry into contracts 35\n\n45. Regulations 37\n\nPart 5 — *State Government Insurance Office Act 1938* repealed\n\n46. Act repealed 38\n\n49. Transitional 38\n\nSchedule 1 — Provisions as to commissioners\n\n1. Terms used 39\n\n2. Commissioners — terms and vacation of office 39\n\n3. Alternate commissioners 40\n\n4. Chairman and deputy chairman — term and vacation of office 40\n\n5. Disclosure of pecuniary interests 41\n\n6. Meetings 41\n\n6A. Telephone and video meetings 42\n\n7. Committees 42\n\n8. Resolution may be passed without meeting 42\n\n8A. Minutes of meetings etc. 43\n\n9. Leave of absence 44\n\n10. Board to determine own procedures 44\n\n11. Protection of commissioners 44\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 45\n\nUncommenced provisions table 48\n\nOther notes 48\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nWestern Australia\n\nInsurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986\n\nAn Act to provide for the constitution and functions of the Insurance Commission of Western Australia, and for related purposes.\n\n[Long title inserted: No. 45 of 1996 s. 4.]\n\n## Part I — Preliminary\n\n##### 1. Short title\n\nThis Act may be cited as the *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986*.\n\n[Section 1 amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 5.]\n\n##### 2. Commencement\n\nThe provisions of this Act shall come into operation on such day as is, or days as are respectively, fixed by proclamation.\n\n##### 3. Terms used\n\nIn this Act, unless the contrary intention appears —\n\n  board of commissioners means the governing body of the Commission provided for by section 5(1);\n\n  borrow includes —\n\n(a) reborrow; and\n\n(b) obtain credit; and\n\n(c) arrange for financial accommodation;\n\n  business undertaking includes any person, corporation, trust, joint venture, government agency or other entity engaging or intending to engage in economic activity;\n\n  Commission means the body continued by section 4 under the corporate name “Insurance Commission of Western Australia”;\n\n  Commission account means a Fund, a fund established under section 7(4)(a) or a trust of which the Commission is a trustee under section 7(4)(c);\n\n  commissioner means —\n\n(a) a person appointed to the board of commissioners under section 5(1)(a), including the chairman and the deputy chairman of the board of commissioners; or\n\n(b) the managing director;\n\n  community organisation means —\n\n(a) an association incorporated, or taken to be incorporated, under the *Associations Incorporation Act 2015*; or\n\n(b) a company limited by guarantee that is registered under section 150 of the *Corporations Act 2001* of the Commonwealth; or\n\n(c) a company holding a licence that continues in force under section 151 of the *Corporations Act 2001* of the Commonwealth;\n\n  eligible community organisation has the meaning given in section 3A;\n\n  Fund means a fund established under section 16;\n\n  insurance includes assurance, co‑insurance, re‑insurance, guarantee and surety;\n\n  insurer means a corporation carrying on business under the *Insurance Act 1973* or the *Life Insurance Act 1945* 1 of the Commonwealth or under each of those Acts;\n\n  managing director means the chief executive officer of the Commission appointed under section 11;\n\n  policy includes contract;\n\n  public authority means —\n\n(a) a department of the Public Service; or\n\n(b) an agency, authority or instrumentality of the Crown in right of the State; or\n\n(c) a body, whether corporate or unincorporate, that is established or continued for a public purpose under a written law, other than a body, or a body of a class, that is excluded by regulation from the operation of this definition;\n\n  risk management does not include the management of risks associated with an investment;\n\n  Treasurer means the Treasurer of the State.\n\n[Section 3 amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 6; No. 34 of 2002 s. 4; No. 30 of 2015 s. 219.]\n\n##### 3A. Eligible community organisations\n\n(1) A community organisation is an eligible community organisation for the purposes of this Act if the Treasurer has made a determination under subsection (2) in respect of the organisation or a class of organisations of which it is a member.\n\n(2) The Treasurer may determine that an organisation, or all organisations of a particular class, is or are eligible to participate in an arrangement managed and administered by the Commission for the insurance and risk management of eligible community organisations.\n\n[Section 3A inserted: No. 34 of 2002 s. 5.]\n\n## Part II — Insurance Commission of Western Australia\n\n[Heading inserted: No. 45 of 1996 s. 7.]\n\n### Division 1 — The Commission and the board of commissioners\n\n[Heading inserted: No. 45 of 1996 s. 7.]\n\n##### 4. Insurance Commission of Western Australia: corporate identity and status\n\n(1) The body corporate established under this section as enacted before the commencement of section 8 of the *Acts Amendment (ICWA) Act 1996* is continued under the corporate name “Insurance Commission of Western Australia” without affecting its corporate identity or its rights and obligations.\n\n(2) The Commission is a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal.\n\n(3) Proceedings may be taken by or against the Commission in its corporate name.\n\n(4) The Commission may use and operate under one or more trading names approved by the Minister being —\n\n(a) an abbreviation or adaptation of its corporate name; or\n\n(b) a name other than its corporate name.\n\n[Section 4 inserted: No. 45 of 1996 s. 8.]\n\n##### 4A. Agent of Crown\n\nThe Commission is an agent of the Crown in right of the State and has the status, immunities and privileges of the Crown except as otherwise prescribed.\n\n[Section 4A inserted: No. 45 of 1996 s. 8.]\n\n##### 5. Board of commissioners\n\n(1) The Commission shall have a board of commissioners comprising —\n\n(a) not less than 3 or more than 6 persons appointed as commissioners by the Governor on the nomination of the Minister; and\n\n(b) the managing director who shall be a commissioner ex officio.\n\n(2) One of the commissioners referred to in subsection (1)(a) shall be appointed by the Governor on the nomination of the Minister to be chairman of the board of commissioners and another of those commissioners shall be so appointed to be deputy chairman of the board of commissioners.\n\n(3) The board of commissioners is the governing body of the Commission with authority, in the name of the Commission, to exercise and perform the powers, functions and duties conferred or imposed on the Commission under this Act.\n\n(4) Schedule 1 shall have effect with respect to the board of commissioners and the commissioners and with respect to the acts, proceedings and determinations of the board of commissioners.\n\n(5) A commissioner referred to in subsection (1)(a) shall be paid out of the funds of the Commission such remuneration and travelling and other allowances as are determined in the case of that commissioner by the Minister on the recommendation of the Public Sector Commissioner.\n\n[Section 5 amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 9; No. 39 of 2010 s. 89.]\n\n### Division 2 — Functions and powers of the Commission\n\n##### 6. Functions\n\nThe functions of the Commission are —\n\n(a) to issue, or cause to be issued, and undertake liability under policies of insurance as required by the *Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act 1943*; and\n\n(aa) to manage and administer, and monitor the operation of, the catastrophic injuries support scheme as defined in the *Motor Vehicle and Workplace Accidents (Catastrophic Injuries) Act 2016* section 3(1); and\n\n(b) to undertake liability under policies of insurance issued by the Commission as required by the *Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981* section 163, being liabilities arising in respect of employment before the *Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023* section 615 comes into operation; and\n\n(c) to manage and administer insurance and risk management arrangements on behalf of public authorities; and\n\n(ca) to manage and administer insurance and risk management arrangements on behalf of eligible community organisations; and\n\n(d) to provide services, facilities and advice to public authorities in respect of the management of claims against them or against funds maintained or administered by them under any written law; and\n\n(e) to initiate, or participate in, and promote programmes and schemes for —\n\n(i) research into the treatment of personal injury; and\n\n(ii) research into, education for, and promotion of public awareness relating to, the prevention of personal injury and accidental death,\n\nbeing programmes and schemes relevant to risks in respect of which the Commission is to provide insurance under paragraph (a) or manage and administer arrangements under paragraph (c) or (ca); and\n\n(f) to provide advice to the Government on matters relating to insurance and risk management; and\n\n(g) to invest and manage moneys and other property under its control; and\n\n(h) to do such other acts and things or engage in such other activities as it is authorised or required to do or engage in under any written law.\n\n[Section 6 amended: No. 49 of 1992 s. 28; No. 45 of 1996 s. 10; No. 34 of 2002 s. 6; No. 42 of 2004 s. 174; No. 8 of 2009 s. 79(2); No. 8 of 2016 s. 40; No. 21 of 2023 s. 642.]\n\n##### 7. Powers\n\n(1) The Commission has power to do, in the State or elsewhere, all things necessary or convenient to be done for or in connection with the performance of its functions.\n\n(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the powers of the Commission referred to in that subsection include power —\n\n(a) with the approval of the Treasurer, to borrow moneys in accordance with this Act and give or arrange security for such borrowings; and\n\n(aa) to fix and collect such fees, charges or other payments as it considers appropriate for or in respect of services it provides; and\n\n(b) to lend moneys and provide credit; and\n\n(c) with the approval of the Treasurer and subject to such terms and conditions as the Treasurer may approve, to open, maintain and operate accounts in the name of the Commission with such bank or banks as the Treasurer may approve for the purposes of section 16(7) and for such other purposes as the Treasurer may approve; and\n\n(d) to issue, draw, make, accept, endorse, and discount bills of exchange and promissory notes; and\n\n(e) to acquire, hold, lease, sublease, license, exploit, encumber, deal in, dispose of, divide, subdivide, improve, develop or alter property or do anything else that a natural person could do in respect of property; and\n\n(f) to form or establish, or participate in the formation or establishment of, any business undertaking; and\n\n(g) to subscribe for, invest in or otherwise acquire any investment and to deal in or dispose of any investment; and\n\n(h) to enter into a partnership or an arrangement for sharing of profits; and\n\n(i) to underwrite issues of shares in, or debentures or other securities of, any business undertaking; and\n\n(j) to appoint or engage agents, custodians, brokers and attorneys; and\n\n(k) to exercise any right conferred upon the Commission to appoint a director of, or hold office in, a business undertaking; and\n\n(l) to establish advisory groups and act on the advice of such groups; and\n\n(m) to act as agent for other persons or public authorities; and\n\n(n) to do and suffer in relation to insurance policies that it has issued or caused to be issued, all such acts and things as an insurer may do and suffer in the course of carrying on business; and\n\n[(o) deleted]\n\n(p) to do anything incidental to any of its powers.\n\n(3) For the purposes of section 6(b), the Commission is taken to be a licensed insurer under the *Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023*.\n\n(4) Without limiting subsection (1) or (2), the Commission has power to arrange reinsurance of risks and, in relation to its functions under section 6(c) or (ca), has power —\n\n(a) to establish, manage and maintain any fund or funds (in addition to the Funds) for the management of insurance arrangements of, or for risk management for, public authorities or eligible community organisations; and\n\n(b) to arrange insurance of risks for public authorities or eligible community organisations; and\n\n(c) to act as trustee of any trust.\n\n(5) The Commission’s powers of investment include —\n\n(a) power to invest in real or personal property of any kind; and\n\n(b) power to be a party to any financial instrument or arrangement that relates to any investment and is, in the opinion of the board of commissioners, for the purpose of managing, limiting or reducing perceived risks or anticipated costs associated with the investment.\n\n[Section 7 amended: No. 49 of 1992 s. 28; No. 45 of 1996 s. 11; No. 34 of 2002 s. 7; No. 42 of 2004 s. 174; No. 21 of 2023 s. 643.]\n\n##### 8. Commission to act efficiently and economically\n\nThe Commission shall perform its functions and exercise its powers in an efficient and economic manner and shall use its best endeavours to ensure that its revenue is sufficient to meet its expenditure.\n\n##### 9. Delegation\n\nThe board of commissioners, in the name and on behalf of the Commission, may, by instrument in writing approved by resolution, delegate to a commissioner, to a committee of the board of commissioners, or to an officer or employee of the Commission all or any of the powers or duties of the Commission, except this power of delegation.\n\n[Section 9 amended: No. 49 of 1992 s. 28.]\n\n##### 10. Directions by Minister\n\n(1) The Minister may give directions in writing to the Commission with respect to its functions, powers and duties, either generally or with respect to a particular matter, and the Commission shall give effect to those directions.\n\n(2) The text of any direction received by the Commission under subsection (1) shall be included in the annual report submitted by the accountable authority of the Commission under Part 5 of the *Financial Management Act 2006*.\n\n(3) Subsection (1) has effect subject to the *Statutory Corporations (Liability of Directors) Act 1996*.\n\n[Section 10 amended: No. 5 of 1989 s. 16; No. 41 of 1996 s. 3; No. 77 of 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 91(1).]\n\n##### 10A. Minister to have access to information\n\n(1) The Minister is entitled —\n\n(a) to have information in the possession of the Commission; and\n\n(b) where the information is in or on a document, to have, and make and retain copies of, that document.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) the Minister may —\n\n(a) request the Commission to furnish information to the Minister;\n\n(b) request the Commission to give the Minister access to information;\n\n(c) for the purposes of paragraph (b) make use of the staff and facilities of the Commission to obtain the information and furnish it to the Minister.\n\n(3) The Commission is to comply with a request under subsection (2) and make its staff and facilities available to the Minister for the purposes of paragraph (c) of that subsection.\n\n(4) In this section —\n\n  document includes any tape, disc or other device or medium on which information is recorded or stored mechanically, photographically, electronically or otherwise;\n\n  information means information specified, or of a description specified, by the Minister that relates to the functions of the Commission;\n\n  staff includes persons whose services are used under section 13.\n\n[Section 10A inserted: No. 45 of 1996 s. 12.]\n\n##### 10B. Confidential information\n\n(1) Nothing in this Act entitles the Minister to have information in the possession of the Commission concerning the affairs of the Commission in a form that —\n\n(a) discloses the identity and affairs of any person who is or has been a customer of the Commission in the person’s capacity as such a customer; or\n\n(b) might enable the identity and affairs of any such person in that capacity to be ascertained.\n\n(2) Subsection (1) does not apply where disclosure of the information —\n\n(a) is required by some other written law; or\n\n(b) is authorised by the customer.\n\n(3) In this section —\n\n  Commission includes the State Government Insurance Office established by the *State Government Insurance Office Act 1938* 2 and the Motor Vehicle Insurance Trust constituted by the *Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act 1943*;\n\n  customer means a person who is or may become a current or former insured party of, or a claimant against, the Commission and an agent, broker or attorney appointed or engaged by the Commission.\n\n[Section 10B inserted: No. 45 of 1996 s. 12.]\n\n### Division 3 — Staff of the Commission\n\n##### 11. Managing director\n\n(1) There shall be an office of managing director of the Commission.\n\n(2) The managing director shall be the chief executive officer of the Commission and shall, subject to the control of the board, administer the day to day operations of the Commission.\n\n(3) The managing director shall be appointed by the Governor on the nomination of the Minister.\n\n(4) Subject to subsections (6) and (7) the managing director shall hold office for such period, not exceeding 5 years, as is specified in the instrument appointing him and is eligible for reappointment.\n\n(5) Subject to the *Salaries and Allowances Act 1975*, the remuneration and allowances payable to, and the conditions of service of, the managing director shall be such as are determined by the Minister on the recommendation of the Public Sector Commissioner.\n\n(6) The managing director may resign his office by notice in writing delivered to the Minister.\n\n(7) The managing director may be removed from office by the Governor for any reason mentioned in clause 2(4) of Schedule 1.\n\n(8) The Minister may appoint a person to act in place of the managing director during any period when he is absent or unable to carry out his duties.\n\n[Section 11 amended: No. 39 of 2010 s. 89.]\n\n##### 12. Appointment of staff and consultants\n\n(1) The Commission may appoint such officers and employees, either full‑time or part‑time, as the board considers necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its functions.\n\n(2) Subject to any relevant order, award or agreement under the *Industrial Relations Act 1979*, the Commission may determine the remuneration and other terms and conditions of service of its officers and employees.\n\n(3) The Commission may from time to time classify the positions to be held by officers and employees of the Commission and define the duties to be performed by the respective holders of those positions.\n\n(4) The Commission may engage under contract for services such professional and technical or other assistance as the board considers necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its functions.\n\n[Section 12 amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 13.]\n\n##### 12A. Status of managing director and officers and employees of Commission\n\nNotwithstanding anything in this Division, to the extent that there is in the case of a person who is appointed under —\n\n(a) section 11 to be the managing director; or\n\n(b) section 12 to be an officer or employee of the Commission,\n\nand who is a member of the Senior Executive Service within the meaning of the *Public Sector Management Act 1994* 3 an inconsistency between this Act and that Act that Act shall prevail.\n\n[Section 12A inserted: No. 113 of 1987 s. 32.]\n\n##### 13. Use of staff and facilities of departments and instrumentalities\n\n(1) The Commission may, by arrangement made between the board of commissioners and the Minister concerned, and on such terms and conditions as may be mutually arranged with that Minister and, if appropriate, with the relevant employing authority within the meaning of the *Public Sector Management Act 1994*, make use, either full‑time or part‑time, of —\n\n(a) the services of any officer or employee employed in the Public Service of the State or in a State instrumentality or otherwise in the service of the Crown in the right of the State; or\n\n(b) any facilities of a department of the Public Service of the State or of a State instrumentality.\n\n(2) Any such arrangement shall provide for an agreed amount by way of payment for the use of the services or facilities.\n\n[Section 13 amended: No. 32 of 1994 s. 19.]\n\n##### 13A. Use of staff and facilities of insurer\n\nThe Commission may arrange to make use, either full‑time or part‑time, of —\n\n(a) the services of any employee of an insurer; or\n\n(b) any services or facilities of an insurer,\n\non such terms and conditions (including payment) as may be mutually arranged by the board of commissioners with that insurer.\n\n[Section 13A inserted: No. 49 of 1992 s. 28.]\n\n##### 14. Superannuation\n\n(1) The Commission may grant, or make provision for the grant of, pensions, gratuities and retirement benefits to its officers and employees and, for that purpose may establish, manage and control, or enter into an arrangement with an insurer or other person for the establishment, management and control by that insurer or other person either alone or jointly with the Commission of, any fund or scheme for the purpose of providing for such pensions, gratuities and benefits.\n\n(2) The Commission may make contributions to any fund or scheme referred to in subsection (1).\n\n(3) In subsection (1) officers and employees includes —\n\n(a) dependants of officers and employees; and\n\n(b) former officers and employees and their dependants.\n\n[Section 14 amended: No. 49 of 1992 s. 28.]\n\n### Division 3A — Strategic development plan and statement of corporate intent\n\n[Heading inserted: No. 28 of 2006 s. 425.]\n\n##### 14A. Duty to observe policy instruments\n\nThe Commission is to perform its functions in accordance with its strategic development plan and its statement of corporate intent as existing from time to time.\n\n[Section 14A inserted: No. 28 of 2006 s. 425.]\n\n##### 14B. Strategic development plan and statement of corporate intent\n\n(1) The board of commissioners must, at the prescribed times, prepare and submit to the Minister —\n\n(a) a strategic development plan for the Commission; and\n\n(b) a statement of corporate intent for the Commission.\n\n(2) The regulations may make provision for the following —\n\n(a) the manner and form in which the board of commissioners is to prepare, submit, revise or modify a strategic development plan or statement of corporate intent;\n\n(b) the period a strategic development plan or statement of corporate intent is to cover;\n\n(c) the matters to be set out in a strategic development plan or statement of corporate intent;\n\n(d) the functions of the board of commissioners, the Minister and the Treasurer in relation to the development, approval or modification of a strategic development plan or statement of corporate intent;\n\n(e) the operation of a strategic development plan or statement of corporate intent.\n\n(3) If a regulation referred to in subsection (2) enables the Minister to give directions to the board of commissioners, the Minister must cause a copy of a direction given under the regulation to be laid before each House of Parliament or be dealt with in accordance with section 14C —\n\n(a) within 14 days after the direction is given; or\n\n(b) if the direction is the subject of a notice under section 17 of the *Statutory Corporations (Liability of Directors) Act 1996*, within 14 days after it is confirmed under that section.\n\n(4) Regulations referred to in subsection (2) are not to be made except with the Treasurer’s concurrence.\n\n[Section 14B inserted: No. 28 of 2006 s. 425.]\n\n##### 14C. Laying directions about strategic development plan or statement of corporate intent before Parliament\n\n(1) If —\n\n(a) a House of Parliament is not sitting at the commencement of the applicable period referred to in section 14B(3) in respect of a direction; and\n\n(b) the Minister is of the opinion that that House will not sit during that period,\n\nthe Minister is to transmit a copy of the direction to the Clerk of that House.\n\n(2) A copy of a direction transmitted to the Clerk of a House is to be taken to have been laid before that House.\n\n(3) The laying of a copy of a direction that is regarded as having occurred under subsection (2) is to be recorded in the Minutes, or Votes and Proceedings, of the House on the first sitting day of the House after the Clerk received the copy.\n\n(4) The text of a direction referred to in section 14B(3) is to be included in the annual report submitted by the accountable authority of the Commission under Part 5 of the *Financial Management Act 2006*.\n\n[Section 14C inserted: No. 28 of 2006 s. 425; amended: No. 77 of 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 91(2).]\n\n### Division 4 — Financial provisions relating to the Commission\n\n#### Subdivision A — Income, expenditure and property of the Commission\n\n##### 15. Moneys available to Commission\n\n(1) Subject to this Act the Commission shall be responsible for managing its own finances.\n\n(2) The moneys available to the Commission for the purposes of this Act are —\n\n(a) moneys from time to time appropriated by Parliament for the purpose; and\n\n(b) moneys received by the Commission, pursuant to any written law, by way of premiums, charges, fees, interest or payment for services; and\n\n(ba) contributions credited to the Motor Vehicle and Workplace Accidents (Catastrophic Injuries) Fund as required under the *Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023* Part 5 Division 11; and\n\n(bb) any amount credited to the Motor Vehicle and Workplace Accidents (Catastrophic Injuries) Fund under the *Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023* section 301; and\n\n(c) moneys derived from the disposal of or dealing with real or personal property vested in or acquired by the Commission, or derived as the income of investment by the Commission or otherwise in the exercise of its functions; and\n\n[(d) deleted]\n\n(e) moneys borrowed under this Act, or lent to the Commission under any other written law, or derived from financial accommodation entered into under and subject to this Act; and\n\n(f) such moneys as may be advanced by the Treasurer in any case where the moneys otherwise standing to the credit of any of the Funds would be insufficient; and\n\n(g) any other moneys lawfully received by the Commission.\n\n[Section 15 amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 14; No. 21 of 2023 s. 644.]\n\n##### 16. Establishment and composition of Funds\n\n(1) The Commission shall establish, maintain and administer the following funds, namely —\n\n(a) a fund to be called the “Third Party Insurance Fund”; and\n\n(b) a fund to be called the “Motor Vehicle and Workplace Accidents (Catastrophic Injuries) Fund”; and\n\n(c) a fund to be called the “Compensation (Industrial Diseases) Fund”; and\n\n(d) a fund to be called the “Government Insurance Fund”; and\n\n(e) a fund to be called the “Insurance Commission General Fund”.\n\n(1a) The Commission may establish, maintain and administer a fund for the purposes of an arrangement managed and administered by the Commission for the insurance and risk management of eligible community organisations.\n\n(2) The Third Party Insurance Fund shall consist of —\n\n(a) moneys appropriated for, or derived from or in connection with, the Commission’s functions under section 6(a) or its functions under section 6(e) in so far as they relate to personal injury and accidental death; and\n\n(b) other property received or acquired by the Commission in connection with the Commission’s functions referred to in paragraph (a); and\n\n(c) moneys or other property credited, apportioned or transferred to that Fund under section 17 or 18,\n\nand, subject to section 18, may be applied for the purpose of carrying out the Commission’s functions referred to in paragraph (a) and for that purpose only.\n\n(3) The Motor Vehicle and Workplace Accidents (Catastrophic Injuries) Fund shall consist of —\n\n(a) moneys appropriated for, or derived from or in connection with, the Commission’s functions under section 6(aa) or its functions under section 6(e) in so far as they relate to personal injury; and\n\n(b) other property received or acquired by the Commission in connection with the Commission’s functions referred to in paragraph (a); and\n\n(c) moneys or other property credited, apportioned or transferred to that Fund under section 17 or 18,\n\nand, subject to section 18, may be applied for the purpose of carrying out the Commission’s functions referred to in paragraph (a) and for that purpose only.\n\n(4) The Compensation (Industrial Diseases) Fund shall consist of —\n\n(a) moneys appropriated for, or derived from or in connection with, the Commission’s functions under section 6(b) or its functions under section 6(e) in so far as they relate to industrial diseases; and\n\n(b) other property received or acquired by the Commission in connection with the Commission’s functions referred to in paragraph (a); and\n\n(c) moneys or other property credited, apportioned or transferred to that Fund under section 17 or 18,\n\nand, subject to section 18, may be applied for the purpose of carrying out the Commission’s functions referred to in paragraph (a) and for that purpose only.\n\n(5) The Government Insurance Fund shall consist of —\n\n(a) moneys appropriated for, or derived from or in connection with, the Commission’s functions under section 6(c) other than moneys in a fund established under section 7(4)(a) or the subject of a trust of which the Commission is a trustee under section 7(4)(c); and\n\n(b) other property received or acquired by the Commission in connection with the Commission’s functions under section 6(c); and\n\n(c) moneys or other property credited, apportioned or transferred to that Fund by the Commission under section 17 or 18,\n\nand, subject to section 18, may be applied for the purpose of carrying out the Commission’s functions under section 6(c) and for that purpose only.\n\n(5a) A fund established under subsection (1a) shall consist of —\n\n(a) moneys appropriated for, or derived from or in connection with, the Commission’s functions under section 6(ca), other than moneys that are the subject of a trust of which the Commission is a trustee under section 7(4)(c); and\n\n(b) other property received or acquired by the Commission in connection with the Commission’s functions under section 6(ca); and\n\n(c) moneys or other property credited, apportioned or transferred to the fund by the Commission under section 17 or 18.\n\n(6) The Insurance Commission General Fund shall consist of —\n\n(a) moneys available to the Commission that are not required to be credited to any other Commission account; and\n\n(b) other property of the Commission that does not form part of any other Commission account; and\n\n(c) any moneys or other property credited, apportioned or transferred to that Fund under section 17 or 18,\n\nand, subject to section 18 may be applied for the purpose of carrying out the functions of the Commission under section 6(d), (f) and (h), and for the general administration of this Act, and for those purposes only.\n\n(7) One or more accounts are to be established in respect of each Fund —\n\n(a) as agency special purpose accounts under section 16 of the *Financial Management Act 2006*; or\n\n(b) with the approval of the Treasurer under section 7(2)(c), at a bank (as defined in section 3 of the *Financial Management Act 2006*) or banks.\n\n(8) One account may be established under subsection (7) in respect of 2 or more Funds.\n\n[Section 16 amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 15; No. 49 of 1996 s. 64; No. 34 of 2002 s. 8; No. 77 of 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 91(3) and (4); No. 8 of 2009 s. 79(3); No. 8 of 2016 s. 41; No. 21 of 2023 s. 645.]\n\n##### 17. Apportionment of income, expenditure and assets\n\n(1) Where money received or receivable or expenditure incurred by the Commission relates to the Commission’s operations in relation to 2 or more Funds the receipts or payments in respect of that income or expenditure shall be apportioned by the Commission to the relevant Funds in such proportions as the board of commissioners thinks fit.\n\n(2) Where property (other than money) received or acquired by the Commission relates to the Commission’s operations in relation to 2 or more Funds the value of that property shall be apportioned by the Commission to the relevant Funds in such proportions as the board of commissioners thinks fit.\n\n(3) Where moneys are appropriated by Parliament for the purposes of functions of the Commission, those moneys shall, subject to the terms of the appropriation Act, be credited by the Commission —\n\n(a) to such Commission account; or\n\n(b) to such Commission accounts in such proportions,\n\nas the board of commissioners thinks fit.\n\n[Section 17 amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 16.]\n\n##### 18. Transfer between Funds\n\n(1) The Commission may temporarily transfer moneys or other property from one Fund to another Fund subject to appropriate adjustments being made at intervals not exceeding 12 months.\n\n(2) Where the financial statements prepared under the *Financial Management Act 2006* in respect of the Third Party Insurance Fund, the Motor Vehicle and Workplace Accidents (Catastrophic Injuries) Fund, the Government Insurance Fund, the Insurance Commission General Fund or a fund established under section 16(1a) indicate that there is a surplus in that Fund the Commission, with the approval of the Treasurer, may transfer the amount, or a portion of the amount, of that surplus to —\n\n(a) another of the Funds; or\n\n(b) the Consolidated Account; or\n\n(c) any other fund or account.\n\n[(3) deleted]\n\n(4) Subject to this section no moneys or other property shall be transferred from a Fund to another Fund.\n\n(5) In this section surplus means any amount standing to the credit of a Fund which, in the opinion of the Treasurer, is in excess of that required as adequate provision for actual and contingent liabilities and the operating and other expenses of the Fund.\n\n[Section 18 amended: No. 6 of 1993 s. 11; No. 34 of 2002 s. 9; No. 77 of 2006 s. 4 and Sch. 1 cl. 91(5); No. 47 of 2011 s. 6; No. 8 of 2016 s. 42; No. 21 of 2023 s. 646.]\n\n#### Subdivision Aa — Investment and property management\n\n[Heading inserted: No. 45 of 1996 s. 17.]\n\n##### 19. Arrangements for appointment of investment managers\n\n(1) The Commission may, with the written approval of the Treasurer, arrange for a person to invest or manage moneys or other property under the control of the Commission on such terms and conditions (including payment) as may be mutually arranged by the board of commissioners with that person.\n\n(2) The Commission is not to make an arrangement with a person under subsection (1) unless the board of commissioners considers that the person is suitably qualified to perform the functions required under the arrangement.\n\n(3) The Commission is to ensure that expressions of interest are invited from persons who are believed by the board of commissioners to be suitably qualified before an arrangement is made under subsection (1).\n\n[Section 19 inserted: No. 45 of 1996 s. 17.]\n\n##### 19A. Investment policy\n\n(1) A person performing a function relating to the investment or management of moneys or other property under the control of the Commission shall observe such prudential requirements as to investment policy as the Treasurer may impose.\n\n(2) Subsection (1) applies to —\n\n(a) the Commission performing its functions under section 6(g); and\n\n(b) a person performing a function under an arrangement under section 19(1).\n\n[Section 19A inserted: No. 45 of 1996 s. 17.]\n\n#### Subdivision B — Financial administration, audit and reporting\n\n##### 20. Application of *Financial Management Act 2006* and *Auditor General Act 2006* to Commission\n\nThe provisions of the *Financial Management Act 2006* and the *Auditor General Act 2006* regulating the financial administration, audit and reporting of statutory authorities apply to and in respect of the Commission and its operations.\n\n[Section 20 amended: No. 77 of 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 91(6).]\n\n##### 21. Provisions and reserves\n\nThe Commission may, in its accounting records, establish and operate provisions for actual and contingent liabilities, reserve accounts and reserve funds for such purposes and within such limits as the Treasurer approves.\n\n##### 22. Accounts\n\nThe Commission shall cause separate and distinct accounts to be kept and maintained under the *Financial Management Act 2006* in respect of each Commission account.\n\n[Section 22 amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 18; No. 77 of 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 91(7).]\n\n##### 23. Annual reports, financial statements\n\nThe Commission shall, if so directed by the Treasurer —\n\n(a) cause a separate and distinct annual report to be prepared and submitted under Part 5 of the *Financial Management Act 2006*, in respect of a Commission account; or\n\n(b) cause separate and distinct financial statements referred to in section 61(1)(a) of the *Financial Management Act 2006* to be prepared in respect of a Commission account for inclusion in the Commission’s annual report under Part 5 of that Act.\n\n[Section 23 inserted: No. 45 of 1996 s. 19; amended: No. 77 of 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 91(8) and (9).]\n\n#### Subdivision C — Borrowing and financial accommodation\n\n##### 24. Power to borrow etc., generally\n\n(1) Subject to this Act, the Commission may, with the approval of the Treasurer —\n\n(a) borrow, or re‑borrow, moneys; or\n\n(b) obtain credit; or\n\n(c) arrange for financial accommodation to be extended to the Commission in ways additional to or other than borrowing moneys or obtaining credit,\n\nfor the purpose of performing its functions.\n\n(2) Any moneys borrowed by, credit obtained by, or financial accommodation extended to the Commission under this section may be raised or entered into, either in Australia or elsewhere, as one loan or transaction or as several loans or transactions.\n\n##### 25. Power to make provision to pay off loans\n\nFor the purpose of making provision to pay off either the whole or any part of the moneys comprised in a loan raised by the Commission, the Commission may, with the approval of the Treasurer, convert or re‑negotiate that loan or otherwise borrow moneys in accordance with this Act before the loan or that part of it becomes repayable.\n\n##### 26. Borrowing power, from Treasury sources\n\nThe Commission may borrow from the Treasurer such amounts as the Treasurer approves, on such conditions as to repayment, payment of interest or any other matter, as the Treasurer imposes.\n\n##### 27. Specific State guarantees\n\n(1) The Treasurer on behalf of the State may guarantee the performance by the Commission, in the State or elsewhere, of any obligation of the Commission, however or wherever arising, entered into or to be entered into by the Commission.\n\n(2) An instrument of guarantee given pursuant to subsection (1) shall be executed by —\n\n(a) the Treasurer; or\n\n(b) a person authorised —\n\n(i) by the Treasurer in writing; or\n\n(ii) by operation of law.\n\n(3) The liability of the State pursuant to a guarantee under this section shall not be affected or discharged by the granting to the Commission of any time or other indulgence or consideration, or by reason of any transaction that may take place between the Commission and any person having the benefit of the guarantee, or by any other act or omission of the person having the benefit of the guarantee, whereby the liability of the State as guarantor would but for this provision have been affected or discharged.\n\n(4) The due performance of a guarantee given by the Treasurer on behalf of the State under the authority of this Act is hereby authorised, and the due payment of moneys payable thereunder with all interest thereon shall be charged to the Consolidated Account which is hereby to the extent necessary appropriated accordingly, and any sums received or recovered by the Treasurer from the Commission or otherwise in respect of payment so charged shall be credited to the Consolidated Account.\n\n(5) By virtue of this subsection any sum paid by the Treasurer under any guarantee given by him on behalf of the State under this Act, and any obligation of the Commission arising pursuant to an advance made under section 26 constitutes a floating charge upon the revenue and assets of the Commission, and such revenue and those assets are charged with the performance and observance by the Commission of the terms and the conditions which the Treasurer may have imposed or approved in relation to that guarantee or that advance.\n\n[Section 27 amended: No. 6 of 1993 s. 11; No. 49 of 1996 s. 64; No. 77 of 2006 s. 4.]\n\n#### Subdivision D — Dividends to State\n\n[Heading inserted: No. 7 of 2013 s. 4.]\n\n##### 28. Interim dividend\n\n(1) Not later than the last day of February in each financial year, the Commission must give the Minister a written report that —\n\n(a) sets out a forecast of the Commission’s net profits for that financial year, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice; and\n\n(b) states any factors or circumstances that the Commission has taken into account in accordance with subsection (2) in preparing the forecast and the report’s recommendation; and\n\n(c) recommends —\n\n(i) whether the Commission should pay the State an interim dividend for that financial year; and\n\n(ii) the amount of the interim dividend (if any).\n\n(2) The profit forecast and recommendation may take into account any factors or circumstances that in the Commission’s opinion may have a material effect on the Commission’s financial position (either positively or negatively) as at the end of that financial year.\n\n(3) On receiving a report under subsection (1), the Minister must —\n\n(a) with the Treasurer’s concurrence, either —\n\n(i) accept the report’s recommendation on the amount of the interim dividend; or\n\n(ii) after consulting the Commission, reject the report’s recommendation and fix a different amount (which may be a nil amount) as the amount of the interim dividend;\n\nand\n\n(b) notify the Commission of the Minister’s decision and the amount of the interim dividend (if any) payable by the Commission.\n\n(4) On receiving a notice under subsection (3)(b), the Commission must pay to the State the amount of the interim dividend (if any) notified to the Commission —\n\n(a) as soon as practicable; but\n\n(b) in any event before the end of the financial year concerned.\n\n[Section 28 inserted: No. 7 of 2013 s. 4.]\n\n##### 29. Annual dividend\n\n(1) A dividend under this section must be calculated with respect to the Commission’s net profits for a financial year, after first taking into account —\n\n(a) any amount paid or payable to the Treasurer under the *State Enterprises (Commonwealth Tax Equivalents) Act 1996* for the year; and\n\n(b) the amount of any interim dividend for the year paid or payable under section 28.\n\n(2) As soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, the Commission must give the Minister a written report that recommends —\n\n(a) whether the Commission should pay the State a dividend for that financial year; and\n\n(b) the amount of the dividend (if any).\n\n(3) On receiving a report under subsection (2), the Minister must —\n\n(a) with the Treasurer’s concurrence, either —\n\n(i) accept the report’s recommendation on the amount of the dividend; or\n\n(ii) after consulting the Commission, reject the report’s recommendation and fix a different amount (which may be a nil amount) as the amount of the dividend;\n\nand\n\n(b) notify the Commission of the Minister’s decision and the amount of the dividend (if any) payable by the Commission.\n\n(4) On receiving a notice under subsection (3)(b), the Commission must pay to the State the amount of the dividend (if any) notified to the Commission —\n\n(a) as soon as practicable; but\n\n(b) in any event not later than —\n\n(i) 6 months after the end of the financial year concerned; or\n\n(ii) any later time agreed on by the Treasurer and the Commission.\n\n[Section 29 inserted: No. 7 of 2013 s. 4.]\n\n##### 30. Provisions for s. 28 and 29\n\n(1) The accountable authority of the Commission under the *Financial Management Act 2006* must include the text of each notice given under section 28(3)(b) or 29(3)(b) in relation to a financial year in the annual report for that year submitted under Part 5 of that Act.\n\n(2) If under section 28(3)(b) or 29(3)(b) the Minister notifies the Commission that the Minister rejects a report’s recommendation and fixes a different amount (other than a nil amount) as the amount of the interim dividend or dividend payable by the Commission, that notification is to be taken to be a direction by the Minister to the Commission for the purposes of the *Statutory Corporations (Liability of Directors) Act 1996*, and that Act applies accordingly.\n\n(3) Any interim dividend or dividend paid under section 28 or 29 must be credited to the Consolidated Account.\n\n[Section 30 inserted: No. 7 of 2013 s. 4.]\n\n##### 31. Transitional provisions for *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Amendment Act 2013*: interim dividends\n\n(1) Section 28 applies in respect of the financial year in which the *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Amendment Act 2013* section 4 comes into operation and subsequent financial years, subject to subsections (2) and (3).\n\n(2) If the *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Amendment Act 2013* section 4 comes into operation on or after 1 March and before the close of 30 June in a financial year, section 28 applies in respect of that financial year with the following modifications —\n\n(a) the Commission must give the Minister the report referred to in section 28(1) not later than 14 days after section 4 of that Act comes into operation;\n\n(b) the Minister must notify the Commission in accordance with section 28(3)(b) as soon as practicable after receiving that report;\n\n(c) the Commission must pay to the State the amount of the interim dividend (if any) notified to the Commission in accordance with section 28(3)(b) —\n\n(i) as soon as practicable; but\n\n(ii) in any event not later than a date determined by the Treasurer and notified to the Commission.\n\n(3) If the *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Amendment Act 2013* section 4 comes into operation on or after 1 July and before 1 September in a financial year, section 28 also applies in respect of the previous financial year with the following modifications —\n\n(a) the Commission must give the Minister the report referred to in section 28(1) not later than 14 days after section 4 of that Act comes into operation;\n\n(b) the Minister must notify the Commission in accordance with section 28(3)(b) as soon as practicable after receiving that report;\n\n(c) the Commission must pay to the State the amount of the interim dividend (if any) notified to the Commission in accordance with section 28(3)(b) —\n\n(i) as soon as practicable; but\n\n(ii) in any event not later than a date determined by the Treasurer and notified to the Commission.\n\n[Section 31 inserted: No. 7 of 2013 s. 4.]\n\n##### 32. Transitional provisions for *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Amendment Act 2013*: annual dividends\n\n(1) Section 29 applies in respect of the financial year immediately before the financial year in which the *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Amendment Act 2013* section 4 comes into operation, the financial year in which section 4 of that Act comes into operation, and subsequent financial years, subject to subsections (2) and (3).\n\n(2) If the *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Amendment Act 2013* section 4 comes into operation on or after 1 September and before the close of 30 June in a financial year (the current financial year), sections 29 and 30(1) apply in respect of the previous financial year with the following modifications —\n\n(a) the Commission must give the Minister the report referred to in section 29(2) as soon as practicable after section 4 of that Act comes into operation;\n\n(b) on receiving a notice under section 29(3)(b) in respect of that report, the Commission must pay to the State the amount of the dividend (if any) notified to the Commission —\n\n(i) as soon as practicable; but\n\n(ii) in any event not later than a date determined by the Treasurer and notified to the Commission;\n\n(c) the accountable authority of the Commission under the *Financial Management Act 2006* must include the text of the notice referred to in paragraph (b) in the annual report for the current financial year submitted under Part 5 of that Act.\n\n(3) If the *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Amendment Act 2013* section 4 comes into operation before 1 July 2013, section 29 applies only in respect of the financial year ending on 30 June 2013 and subsequent financial years.\n\n[Section 32 inserted: No. 7 of 2013 s. 4.]\n\n[Part III: s. 33 deleted: No. 49 of 1992 s. 28;  \ns. 34‑41 deleted: No. 45 of 1996 s. 20.]\n\n## Part IV — General\n\n##### 42. Secrecy\n\n(1) A person to whom this section applies shall not, either directly or indirectly, except in the performance of a function or duty under or in connection with this or any other written law or as required by any other legal duty —\n\n(a) make a record of, or divulge or communicate to any person, any information concerning the affairs of another person acquired by him by reason of his office or employment under or for the purposes of this Act; or\n\n(b) produce to any person any document relating to the affairs of another person furnished for the purposes of this Act.\n\nPenalty: $2 500.\n\n(2) This section applies to every person who is or has been a commissioner or alternate commissioner, is or has been an officer or employee of the Commission, or is rendering, or has rendered services to the Commission under section 12, 13 or 13A.\n\n[Section 42 amended: No. 49 of 1992 s. 28; No. 45 of 1996 s. 21.]\n\n##### 43. Execution of documents and entry into contracts\n\n(1) A document is duly executed by the Commission if —\n\n(a) it is sealed with the seal of the Commission in accordance with the regulations; or\n\n(b) it is executed on behalf of the commission by a person empowered to do so under subsection (4).\n\n(2) A document purporting to be executed in accordance with this section shall be presumed to be duly executed until the contrary is shown.\n\n(3) Where a document is produced bearing a seal purporting to be the common seal of the Commission it shall be presumed that the seal is the common seal of the Commission until the contrary is shown.\n\n(4) The Commission may, by writing under its common seal, empower a commissioner, officer, employee or other person, either generally or in respect of a specified matter, or specified matters, to execute deeds on its behalf, and a deed executed by such a person on behalf of the Commission binds the Commission and has the same effect as if it were under the common seal of the Commission.\n\n(5) The authority of a person empowered by the Commission under subsection (4) shall be deemed as between the Commission and a person dealing with him, to have continued during the period (if any) specified in the instrument conferring his authority or, if no period is so specified, until notice of the revocation or termination of his authority was given to the person dealing with him.\n\n(6) Insofar as the formalities of making, varying or discharging a contract are concerned a person acting under the express or implied authority of the Commission may make, vary or discharge a contract in the name of or on behalf of the Commission in the same manner as if the Commission were a natural person.\n\n(7) The making, varying or discharging of a contract in accordance with subsection (6) is effectual in law and binds the Commission and other parties to the contract.\n\n(8) Subsection (6) does not prevent the Commission from making, varying or discharging a contract under its common seal.\n\n[Section 43 amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 22; correction to reprint in Gazette 4 Aug 2015 p. 3135.]\n\n[**44**. Deleted: No. 21 of 2023 s. 647.]\n\n##### 45. Regulations\n\n(1) The Governor may make regulations prescribing all matters that are required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed, or are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to the purposes of this Act.\n\n(2) Without limiting subsection (1), regulations may provide for the use of the common seal of the Commission in Western Australia and elsewhere.\n\n[Section 45 amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 24.]\n\n## Part 5 — *State Government Insurance Office Act 1938* repealed\n\n[Heading inserted: No. 14 of 2025 s. 9(2).]\n\n##### 46. Act repealed\n\n(1) The *State Government Insurance Office Act 1938* is hereby repealed.\n\n[(2) Omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(e).]\n\n[**47, 48**. Deleted: No. 14 of 2025 s. 9(3).]\n\n##### 49. Transitional\n\nThe Motor Vehicle and Workplace Accidents (Catastrophic Injuries) Fund is a continuation of the Motor Vehicle (Catastrophic Injuries) Fund established and maintained under section 16(1)(b) before the day on which the *Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023* section 648 comes into operation.\n\n[Section 49 inserted: No. 21 of 2023 s. 648.]\n\nSchedule 1 — Provisions as to commissioners\n\n[s. 5(4)]\n\n[Heading amended: No. 19 of 2010 s. 4.]\n\n1. Terms used\n\nIn this Schedule —\n\nboard means the board of commissioners of the Commission;\n\nordinary commissioner means a commissioner other than the managing director, and includes the chairman and the deputy chairman of the board of commissioners.\n\n2. Commissioners — terms and vacation of office\n\n(1) Subject to subclauses (2), (3) and (4), an ordinary commissioner shall hold office for such period, not exceeding 3 years, as is specified in the instrument appointing him as a commissioner, and is eligible for reappointment.\n\n(2) An ordinary commissioner, unless he sooner resigns or is removed from office, shall continue in office until his successor comes into office, notwithstanding that the period for which he was appointed may have expired.\n\n(3) An ordinary commissioner may resign his office by notice in writing delivered to the Minister.\n\n(4) An ordinary commissioner may be removed from office by the Governor —\n\n(a) for mental or physical disability, incompetence, neglect of duty or misconduct proved to the satisfaction of the Governor; or\n\n(b) if he is, according to the *Interpretation Act 1984* section 13D, a bankrupt or a person whose affairs are under insolvency laws; or\n\n(c) if he is absent without leave of the board from 3 consecutive meetings of the board of which he has had notice.\n\n(5) An ordinary commissioner shall carry out his duties on a part‑time basis unless there is any requirement to the contrary in the instrument appointing him as a commissioner or as chairman or deputy chairman of the board.\n\n[Clause 2 amended: No. 18 of 2009 s. 47(2).]\n\n3. Alternate commissioners\n\n(1) Where an ordinary commissioner, is unable to act by reason of sickness, absence or other cause, the Minister may appoint another person to act temporarily in his place, and while so acting according to the tenor of his appointment that other person is deemed to be a commissioner.\n\n(2) Except where there is a person acting in his place pursuant to section 11(8), the managing director may, in writing delivered to the chairman of the board, nominate a senior officer of the Commission to represent him at any meeting of the board which he is unable to attend by reason of sickness, absence or other cause, and while so attending the person so nominated is deemed to be a commissioner.\n\n(3) No act or omission of a person acting in place of another under this clause shall be questioned on the ground that the occasion for his appointment or acting had not arisen or had ceased.\n\n4. Chairman and deputy chairman — term and vacation of office\n\n(1) Subject to subclauses (2) and (3) the chairman or deputy chairman of the board shall hold office as chairman or deputy chairman for such period not exceeding 3 years as is specified in the instrument appointing him as chairman or deputy chairman, as the case may be, and is eligible for reappointment.\n\n(2) The office of the chairman or deputy chairman of the board becomes vacant if he ceases to be a commissioner.\n\n(3) The chairman or deputy chairman of the board may resign his office as chairman or deputy chairman by notice in writing delivered to the Minister.\n\n5. Disclosure of pecuniary interests\n\n(1) A commissioner who has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a matter being considered or about to be considered by the board shall, as soon as possible after the relevant facts have come to his knowledge, disclose the nature of his interest at a meeting of the board.\n\n(2) A disclosure under subclause (1) shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting of the board and the commissioner shall not, unless the board otherwise determines —\n\n(a) be present during any deliberation of the board with respect to that matter; or\n\n(b) take part in any decision of the board with respect to that matter.\n\n(3) For the purpose of the making of a determination by the board under subclause (2) in relation to a commissioner who has made a disclosure under subclause (1), a commissioner who has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the matter to which the disclosure relates shall not —\n\n(a) be present during any deliberation of the board for the purpose of making the determination; or\n\n(b) take part in the making by the board of the determination.\n\n6. Meetings\n\n(1) The first meeting of the board shall be convened by the chairman of the board and thereafter, subject to subclause (2), meetings shall be held at such times and places as the board determines.\n\n(2) A special meeting of the board may at any time be convened by the chairman of the board.\n\n(3) The chairman of the board shall preside at all meetings of the board at which he is present.\n\n(4) If the chairman of the board is absent from a meeting the deputy chairman of the board shall, if present, preside at the meeting.\n\n(5) If the chairman and the deputy chairman of the board are both absent from a meeting the commissioners present shall appoint one of their number to preside.\n\n(6) At any meeting of the board 3 commissioners constitute a quorum.\n\n(7) At any meeting of the board the person presiding shall have a deliberative vote, and in the case of an equality of votes, shall also have a casting vote.\n\n[Clause 6 amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 26(a).]\n\n6A. Telephone and video meetings\n\nDespite anything in this Schedule, a communication between commissioners constituting a quorum under clause 6(6) by telephone or audio‑visual means is a valid meeting of the board, but only if each participating commissioner is capable of communicating with every other participating commissioner instantaneously at all times during the proceedings.\n\n[Clause 6A amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 26(b).]\n\n7. Committees\n\n(1) The board may from time to time, by resolution, appoint committees of such commissioners, or such commissioners and other persons, as it thinks fit and may discharge, alter, continue or reconstitute any committee so appointed.\n\n(2) Subject to the directions of the board and to the terms of any delegation under section 9, each committee may determine its own procedures.\n\n(3) Clause 6A applies, with such modifications as are necessary, in relation to a committee.\n\n[Clause 7 amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 26(c).]\n\n8. Resolution may be passed without meeting\n\n(1) If a document containing a statement to the effect that an act, matter or thing has been done or resolution has been passed is sent or given to all commissioners and is assented to by not less than 3 commissioners that act, matter, thing or resolution is to be taken as having been done at or passed by a meeting of the board.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subclause (1) —\n\n(a) the meeting is to be taken as having been held —\n\n(i) if the commissioners assented to the document on the same day, on the day on which the document was assented to and at the time at which the document was last assented to by a commissioner; or\n\n(ii) if the commissioners assented to the document on different days, on the day on which, and at the time at which, the document was last assented to by a commissioner;\n\nand\n\n(b) 2 or more separate documents in identical terms each of which is assented to by one or more commissioners are to be taken to constitute one document; and\n\n(c) a commissioner may signify assent to a document by signing the document or by notifying the Commission of the commissioner’s assent in person or by post, facsimile transmission, telephone or other method of written, audio or audio‑visual communication.\n\n(3) Where a commissioner signifies assent to a document otherwise than by signing the document, the commissioner must by way of confirmation sign the document at the next meeting of the board attended by that commissioner, but failure to do so does not invalidate the act, matter, thing or resolution to which the document relates.\n\n(4) Where a document is assented to in accordance with subclause (1), the document is to be taken as a minute of a meeting of the board.\n\n[Clause 8 amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 26(d).]\n\n8A. Minutes of meetings etc.\n\nThe board is to ensure that an accurate record is kept and preserved of the proceedings at each meeting of the board and of each resolution passed under clause 8.\n\n[Clause 8A amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 26(d).]\n\n9. Leave of absence\n\nThe board may grant leave of absence to a commissioner on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.\n\n10. Board to determine own procedures\n\nSubject to this Act, the board shall determine its own procedures.\n\n11. Protection of commissioners\n\n(1) A commissioner is not personally liable for any act done or omitted to be done in good faith by the Commission, the board, a committee of the board or a delegate of the Commission or by him acting as a commissioner.\n\n(2) Subclause (1) has effect subject to the *Statutory Corporations (Liability of Directors) Act 1996*.\n\n[Clause 11 amended: No. 41 of 1996 s. 3.]\n\n[Schedule 2 deleted: No. 45 of 1996 s. 27.]\n\n[Schedule 3 omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(e).]\n\n[Schedule 4 deleted: No. 14 of 2025 s. 9(4).]\n\n![dline]()\n\nNotes\n\nThis is a compilation of the *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986* and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation, and for information about any reprints, see the compilation table. For provisions that have not yet come into operation see the uncommenced provisions table.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Short title** | **Number and year** | **Assent** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *State Government Insurance Commission Act 1986*13 | 51 of 1986 | 5 Aug 1986 | s. 1 and 2: 5 Aug 1986;   Act other than s. 1 and 2: 1 Jan 1987 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 19 Dec 1986 p. 4859) |\n| *Acts Amendment (Public Service) Act 1987* s. 32 | 113 of 1987 | 31 Dec 1987 | 16 Mar 1988 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 16 Mar 1988 p. 813) |\n| *Acts Amendment (Accountability) Act 1989* Pt. 6 | 5 of 1989 | 26 Apr 1989 | 1 Jul 1989 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 30 Jun 1989 p. 1893) |\n| *SGIO Privatisation Act 1992* s. 28 | 49 of 1992 | 9 Dec 1992 | 7 Jan 1993 (see s. 2(3) and *Gazette* 7 Jan 1993 p. 15) |\n| *Financial Administration Legislation Amendment Act 1993* s. 11 | 6 of 1993 | 27 Aug 1993 | 1 Jul 1993 (see s. 2(1)) |\n| *Acts Amendment (Public Sector Management) Act 1994* s. 19 | 32 of 1994 | 29 Jun 1994 | 1 Oct 1994 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 30 Sep 1994 p. 4948) |\n| *Statutory Corporations (Liability of Directors) Act 1996* s. 3 | 41 of 1996 | 10 Oct 1996 | 1 Dec 1996 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 12 Nov 1996 p. 6301) |\n| *Acts Amendment (ICWA) Act 1996* Pt. 2 (other than s. 25 and 28) 14, 15, 17 | 45 of 1996 | 25 Oct 1996 | s. 3, 6(b) (to the extent it inserts definition of *Commission Account*), 6(c), 9‑12, 15‑19, 23 and 26: 14 Dec 1996   (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 13 Dec 1996 p. 6901);   s. 4, 5, 6(b) (to the extent it inserts the definition of *Commission*), 7, 8 and 29‑37: 1 Oct 1997 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 23 Sep 1997 p. 5357);   s. 6(a), 13, 14, 20‑22, 24 and 27: 1 Jul 2012 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 8 Jun 2012 p. 2385) |\n| *Financial Legislation Amendment Act 1996* s. 64 | 49 of 1996 | 25 Oct 1996 | 25 Oct 1996 (see s. 2(1)) |\n| *State Enterprises (Commonwealth Tax Equivalents) Act 1996* s. 10(1) | 55 of 1996 | 11 Nov 1996 | 1 Jul 1996 (see s. 2 and 3(3)) |\n| **Reprint of the *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986* as at 12 Nov 1999** (includes amendments listed above except those in the *Acts Amendment (ICWA) Act 1996* s. 6(a), 13, 14, 20‑22, 24 and 27) | | | |\n| *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Amendment Act 2002* 16 | 34 of 2002 | 20 Nov 2002 | 20 Nov 2002 (see s. 2) |\n| *Workers’ Compensation Reform Act 2004* s. 174 | 42 of 2004 | 9 Nov 2004 | 4 Jan 2005 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 31 Dec 2004 p. 7131) |\n| *Machinery of Government (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2006* Pt. 17 Div. 5 | 28 of 2006 | 26 Jun 2006 | 1 Jul 2006 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 27 Jun 2006 p. 2347) |\n| **Reprint 2: The *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986* as at 8 Sep 2006** (includes amendments listed above except those in the *Acts Amendment (ICWA) Act 1996* s. 6(a), 13, 14, 20‑22, 24 and 27) | | | |\n| *Financial Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2006* s. 4 and Sch. 1 cl. 91 | 77 of 2006 | 21 Dec 2006 | 1 Feb 2007 (see s. 2(1) and *Gazette* 19 Jan 2007 p. 137) |\n| *Duties Legislation Amendment Act 2008* Sch. 1 cl. 18 | 12 of 2008 | 14 Apr 2008 | 1 Jul 2008 (see s. 2(d)) |\n| *Statutes (Repeals and Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2009* s. 79 | 8 of 2009 | 21 May 2009 | 22 May 2009 (see s. 2(b)) |\n| *Acts Amendment (Bankruptcy) Act 2009* s. 47 | 18 of 2009 | 16 Sep 2009 | 17 Sep 2009 (see s. 2(b)) |\n| *Standardisation of Formatting Act 2010* s. 4 | 19 of 2010 | 28 Jun 2010 | 11 Sep 2010 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 10 Sep 2010 p. 4341) |\n| **Reprint 3: The *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986* as at 1 Oct 2010** (includes amendments listed above except those in the *Acts Amendment (ICWA) Act 1996* s. 6(a), 13, 14, 20‑22, 24 and 27) | | | |\n| *Public Sector Reform Act 2010* s. 89 | 39 of 2010 | 1 Oct 2010 | 1 Dec 2010 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 5 Nov 2010 p. 5563) |\n| *Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 2011* s. 6 | 47 of 2011 | 25 Oct 2011 | 26 Oct 2011 (see s. 2(b)) |\n| *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Amendment Act 2013* | 7 of 2013 | 19 Aug 2013 | s. 1 and 2: 19 Aug 2013 (see s. 2(a));   Act other than s. 1 and 2: 20 Aug 2013 (see s. 2(b)) |\n| **Reprint 4: The *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986* as at 10 Jan 2014** (includes amendments listed above) (correction in *Gazette* 4 Aug 2015 p. 3135) | | | |\n| *Associations Incorporation Act 2015* s. 219 | 30 of 2015 | 2 Nov 2015 | 1 Jul 2016 (see s. (b) and *Gazette* 24 Jun 2016 p. 2291-2) |\n| *Motor Vehicle (Catastrophic Injuries) Act 2016* Pt. 7 Div. 2 | 8 of 2016 | 14 Apr 2016 | 14 May 2016 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 13 May 2016 p. 1421) |\n| **Reprint 5: The *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986* as at 31 Aug 2016** (includes amendments listed above) | | | |\n| *Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023* Pt. 15 Div. 3 Subdiv. 5 | 21 of 2023 | 24 Oct 2023 | 1 Jul 2024 (see s. 2(d) and SL 2024/34 cl. 2) |\n| *Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 2025* Pt. 3 Div. 2 | 14 of 2025 | 25 Sep 2025 | 26 Sep 2025 (see s. 2(b)) |\n\n\nUncommenced provisions table\n\nTo view the text of the uncommenced provisions see *Acts as passed* on the WA Legislation website.\n\n| **Short title** | **Number and year** | **Assent** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *State Superannuation (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2000* s. 50 19 | 43 of 2000 | 2 Nov 2000 | To be proclaimed (see s. 2(2)) |\n\n\nOther notes\n\n1 The *Life Insurance Act 1945* was repealed by the *Life Insurance (Consequential Amendments and Repeals) Act 1995* s. 5.\n\n2 The *State Government Insurance Office Act 1938* was repealed by the *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986* s. 46(1).\n\n3 Under the *Public Sector Management Act 1994* s. 112(1), a reference to the *Public Service Act 1978* is to be read as a reference to the *Public Sector Management Act 1994*. The reference was changed under the *Reprints Act 1984* s. 7(3)(g).\n\n4 The *Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act 1943* s. 3P(4a) was deleted by the *Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance Surcharge) Repeal Act 1988* s. 5.\n\n5 The *Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985* was repealed by the *Financial Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2006*.\n\n6 Now known as the *Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981*.\n\n7 Section 31(2)(k) of this Act was deleted by the *SGIO Privatisation Act 1992* s. 28*.*\n\n8 The *State Trading Concerns Act 1916* s. 21 and 22 were deleted by the *Acts Amendment (Financial Administration and Audit) Act 1985* s. 3.\n\n9 The *Employers’ Indemnity Supplementation Fund Act 1980* s. 26 was deleted by the *State Government Insurance Commission Act 1986* s. 46(2).\n\n10 Under the *Public Sector Management Act 1994* s. 112(1), a reference in a written law to the *Public Service Act 1978* is, unless the contrary intention appears or it is otherwise provided under the *Acts Amendment (Public Sector Management) Act 1994*, to be construed as if it had been amended to be a reference to the *Public Sector Management Act 1994*.\n\n11 The *Superannuation and Family Benefits Act 1938* was repealed by the *State Superannuation Act 2000* s. 39, but its provisions continue to apply to and in relation to certain schemes because of the *State Superannuation (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2000* s. 26.\n\n12 Under the *Public Sector Management Act 1994* s. 112(2), a reference in a written law to the Public Service Board is, unless the contrary intention appears or it is otherwise provided under the *Acts Amendment (Public Sector Management) Act 1994*, to be construed as if it had been amended to be a reference to the Minister for Public Sector Management which is a term defined in the *Interpretation Act 1984*.\n\n13 Now known as the *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986*; short title changed (see note under s. 1).\n\n14 The *Acts Amendment (ICWA) Act 1996* s. 11(9) reads as follows:\n\n(9) Anything done before the commencement of a provision of this section, is as valid and has the same force and effect, and is to be regarded as having always been as valid and had the same force and effect, as if that provision and section 10 of this Act had come into operation before the thing was done.\n\n15 The *Acts Amendment (ICWA) Act 1996* Pt. 3 contained transitional and savings provisions that are of no further effect.\n\n16 The *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Amendment Act 2002* s. 10 reads as follows:\n\n10. Transition and savings\n\nThe functions conferred on the Insurance Commission of Western Australia by section 6(ca) and (e) of the *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986* as amended by this Act are taken always to have been functions of the Commission.\n\n17 The *Acts Amendment (ICWA) Act 1996* s. 25 and 28 were deleted by the *Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 2025* s. 10(2) and (3) before they purported to come into operation.\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\nassets Sch. 4 cl. 1\n\nboard Sch. 1 cl. 1\n\nboard of commissioners 3\n\nborrow 3\n\nbusiness undertaking 3\n\ncommencement day Sch. 4 cl. 1\n\nCommission 3, 10B(3)\n\nCommission account 3\n\ncommissioner 3\n\ncommunity organisation 3\n\ncurrent financial year 32(2)\n\ncustomer 10B(3)\n\ndocument 10A(4)\n\neligible community organisation 3\n\nexisting policy Sch. 4 cl. 10(1)\n\nexisting re‑insurance policy Sch. 4 cl. 10(1)\n\nFund 3\n\ninformation 10A(4)\n\ninsurance 3\n\ninsurer 3\n\nliabilities Sch. 4 cl. 1\n\nmanaging director 3\n\nMVIT Sch. 4 cl. 1\n\nofficers and employees 14(3)\n\nordinary commissioner Sch. 1 cl. 1\n\npolicy 3\n\nprescribed period Sch. 4 cl. 1\n\npublic authority 3\n\nrisk management 3\n\nSGIO Sch. 4 cl. 1\n\nstaff 10A(4)\n\nsurplus 18(5)\n\nThird Party Insurance Act Sch. 4 cl. 1\n\nTreasurer 3\n\nWC&IM Act 44\n\n© State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0). To view relevant information and for a link to a copy of the licence, visit www.legislation.wa.gov.au.\n\nAttribute work as: © State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nBy Authority: GEOFF O. LAWN, Government Printer\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed as no legislative content was included in the provided text. The submission contains only a broken-link error page from the Western Australian legislation website."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative content was provided — only a webpage error message was captured","Cannot assess complexity of the underlying Act from the available text","The actual Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986 would likely score significantly higher if its full text were available, given it governs a statutory insurance body with financial, regulatory and administrative functions"],"plain_english_summary":"**⚠️ Content Unavailable**\n\nThe text provided does not contain the actual legislation. The page for the *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986* is no longer accessible at its original web address due to system upgrades — only an error/redirect notice was captured.\n\n**What we do know:**\n- This is a Western Australian law from 1986\n- It relates to the Insurance Commission of Western Australia (ICWA), a government body that manages certain insurance schemes in WA (including third-party personal injury insurance for motor vehicles and workers' compensation)\n- To access the actual legislation, visit the Western Australian Parliamentary Counsel's Office website and search for the Act directly"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act’s scope as compiled includes additions and structural changes made since the original 1986 enactment. The text explicitly incorporates later functions and funds: for example, management of the catastrophic injuries scheme is included (s 6(aa)); eligible community organisations and a fund for their insurance and risk management are enabled (s 3A; s 16(1a); s 6(ca)); and dividend obligations to the State (interim and annual) are set out (ss 28–32). The Commission’s investment, borrowing and reporting framework has been elaborated and tied to the Financial Management Act and Treasurer approvals (ss 19–19A; s 20; ss 24–27). The compilation and amendment history in the text records these additions and transitional arrangements (see notes and inserted provisions such as s 3A, ss 14A–14C, and Part IV amendments)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple dedicated statutory Funds with separate accounting and strict application rules (s 16; s 22).","Cross‑reference and dependence on several other Acts for core functions and administration (e.g. Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act 1943; Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023; Financial Management Act 2006) (s 6; s 20; s 15).","Significant discretionary controls shared among three actors: board (operational and apportionment decisions) (s 5; s 17), Minister (directions and access to information) (ss 10, 10A), and Treasurer (borrowing, guarantees, investment prudential requirements, surplus definition and approvals) (ss 7(2)(a), 19, 19A, 24–27, 18(5)).","Detailed financial processes including interim and annual dividend mechanisms, forecasting, reporting and potential forced transfers to the Consolidated Account (ss 28–30; s 18).","Investment and borrowing powers combined with state guarantee mechanisms create legal and financial complexity (ss 7; ss 24–27; ss 19–19A).","Administrative compliance obligations under the Financial Management Act and Auditor General Act, plus strategic planning and reporting duties (ss 14A–14B; s 20; s 23).","Confidentiality and secrecy rules intersect with Ministerial information rights, requiring careful implementation (ss 10A–10B; s 42).","Schedule 1 governance and meeting rules with delegation mechanics and protections for commissioners add procedural detail (Sch 1; s 9)."],"plain_english_summary":"What this law does (mechanics)\n\n- Creates and continues the Insurance Commission of Western Australia as a corporate body and an agent of the State (ss 4, 4A). It is governed by a board of commissioners and a managing director; appointment, terms and procedures for commissioners are in Schedule 1 and section 11 (s 5; Sch 1; s 11).\n\n- Sets out the Commission’s core functions: issue motor vehicle third‑party insurance, administer the catastrophic injuries scheme, meet certain workers’ compensation liabilities, manage insurance and risk for public authorities and (if the Treasurer so determines) for eligible community organisations, manage claims and run related research and education programmes, invest and manage money and property, and advise government (s 6; s 3A; s 16(1a)).\n\n- Gives the Commission wide commercial powers to borrow (with Treasurer approval), lend, invest, form or participate in business undertakings, underwrite securities, appoint agents and investment managers, and arrange reinsurance (s 7; ss 19–19A; ss 24–27).\n\n- Requires the Commission to maintain several distinct statutory funds (Third Party Insurance Fund; Motor Vehicle and Workplace Accidents (Catastrophic Injuries) Fund; Compensation (Industrial Diseases) Fund; Government Insurance Fund; Insurance Commission General Fund; and a fund for eligible community organisations) and to keep separate accounts for them (s 16; s 22). The Commission may apportion receipts and assets between funds (s 17) and may transfer surpluses with Treasurer approval (s 18).\n\n- Subjects the Commission to the Financial Management Act 2006 and Auditor General Act 2006 for financial administration, audit and reporting, and requires separate accounts and reporting for Commission accounts (s 20; s 22; s 23). The Commission must prepare a strategic development plan and statement of corporate intent and perform functions in accordance with them (ss 14A–14C).\n\n- Establishes processes for dividends to the State: an interim dividend process (forecast and Minister/Treasurer decision) and an annual dividend process (s 28–30). Dividends are credited to the Consolidated Account (s 30(3)).\n\n- Gives the Minister the power to give written directions to the Commission and the right to access information held by the Commission (ss 10, 10A). Confidentiality protections limit disclosure of customer‑identifying information to the Minister except where lawful or authorised by the customer (s 10B). There is an offence of improper disclosure by Commission officers with a monetary penalty (s 42).\n\nWho pays and who decides (practical lines of authority and money flows)\n\n- Who pays: the Commission’s resources come from parliamentary appropriations, premiums/fees/charges and contributions (including catastrophic injuries contributions), investment income and disposals, borrowings, and Treasurer advances (s 15(2)).\n\n- Who decides: the board of commissioners governs the Commission and makes operational and allocation decisions (s 5(3); s 17). The Minister may give directions the Commission must follow (s 10). The Treasurer must approve borrowing, certain bank accounts, transfers of surpluses and may impose prudential investment requirements; the Treasurer also has authority to guarantee Commission obligations (ss 7(2)(a), 7(2)(c), 18(2), 19, 19A, 24–27).\n\n- Behaviour the law changes: the Commission is authorised and encouraged to act as a commercial insurer and fund manager for specified public and eligible community risks (s 6; s 7). It can set fees for services (s 7(2)(aa)), enter into commercial arrangements, borrow, invest, and (subject to Treasurer/Minister controls) divert surpluses to the State (ss 7, 24–30).\n\nOfficial purpose claims and an evidence‑based test against incentives, costs and trade‑offs\n\n- The Act’s stated functions (s 6) present the Commission as the statutory vehicle to provide specified insurance cover, to administer associated statutory schemes (for example catastrophic injuries), and to provide insurance and risk management services to public authorities and eligible community organisations. That is the explicit claim of purpose (s 6; s 3A; s 16(1a)).\n\n- Costs and who bears them: policyholders and entities using Commission services provide premiums or fees (s 15(2)(b)); the State may also supply appropriations and Treasurer advances (s 15(2)(a), (f)). When the Treasurer guarantees Commission obligations the Consolidated Account is exposed to any payments under a guarantee (s 27(4)). Dividends extracted to the Consolidated Account (s 30(3)) reallocate Commission surplus to the State, which reduces the amount of surplus retained by the Commission for its own use.\n\n- Incentives created for the Commission: the Commission is expressly required to act efficiently and economically and to aim for revenue sufficiency (s 8). It can charge fees (s 7(2)(aa)), invest broadly (s 7(5)), and arrange commercial activities (s 7(f)–(i)), which creates a revenue‑generation incentive internal to the Commission. The dividend rules (ss 28–29) create a further incentive to forecast and report profits that are then subject to Minister/Treasurer decisions.\n\n- Trade‑offs and opportunity costs: mandatory reporting and dividend payments to the State (ss 28–30) mean resources that could be held as reserves or invested for the Fund’s long‑term liabilities may instead be transferred to the Consolidated Account if approved. Treasurer approval over surpluses (s 18(5) defines surplus in Treasurer’s opinion) centralises the choice of what is retained versus returned to the State.\n\n- Implementation and compliance burden: the Commission must maintain separate accounts for each Fund (s 22), comply with Financial Management Act reporting and audit (s 20), prepare strategic plans and statements of corporate intent (ss 14A–14B), include Minister directions in annual reports (s 10(2)), and meet prudential investment obligations set by the Treasurer (s 19A). There is also a statutory secrecy obligation with penalty for improper disclosure (s 42).\n\n- Bureaucratic discretion and decision concentration: the Treasurer has formal approval powers over borrowing, bank accounts, appointment of investment managers (requires Treasurer’s written approval under s 19(1)), investment policy requirements (s 19A) and transfers of surplus (s 18). The Minister can give directions (s 10) and access Commission information (s 10A). The board retains operational discretion over apportionment (s 17) and some fee‑setting power (s 7(2)(aa)). Those allocations of authority concentrate financial and policy levers with the Treasurer and Minister while leaving commercial and operational choices to the board.\n\nEffects on private enterprise, competition and market behaviour (what the Act permits or changes)\n\n- The Act grants the Commission broad commercial rights: it may form or participate in business undertakings, underwrite securities, acquire or dispose of property, and appoint directors to business undertakings (s 7(e)–(k)). It may also set fees for services (s 7(2)(aa)). These powers allow the Commission to engage in market activity that could overlap with private insurers’ activities.\n\n- State support mechanisms: the Treasurer may guarantee Commission obligations and the Commission may borrow from the Treasurer (ss 26–27). Those mechanisms create a statutory route for state backing of Commission obligations (s 27), which has practical effects on financing conditions available to the Commission (ss 24–26).\n\n- The Act does not, in text, prohibit private insurers from operating in the same lines of business. It grants the Commission powers to act commercially; how that interacts with private competition is a function of how those powers are exercised and how the Treasurer/Mineral decisions are applied in practice (s 7; ss 24–27).\n\nConcrete points of compliance and operational risk flagged by the text\n\n- Financial interplay with other laws: many functions and processes cross‑reference to other Acts (for example the Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act 1943, Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023, Financial Management Act 2006, Auditor General Act 2006) (see s 6; s 20; s 15; s 16). That cross‑reference requires coordinated implementation.\n\n- Reserve adequacy and surplus definition: the Treasurer defines what constitutes a surplus for transfer (s 18(5)), and the Commission may establish provisions and reserves with Treasurer approval (s 21). This places actuarial and accounting judgment under Treasurer oversight.\n\n- Confidentiality and Minister access: the Minister can access Commission information (s 10A) but cannot be provided customer‑identifying information except where law requires or the customer authorises it (s 10B). Staff and commissioners are subject to secrecy obligations (s 42).\n\nSummary of who pays, who decides and likely behavioural effects (plain terms)\n\n- Who pays: premiums and fees from insured parties and the users of Commission services, investment income and property disposals, borrowings and state appropriations or advances (s 15(2)).\n\n- Who decides: the Commission’s board makes operational and allocation decisions (s 5); the Minister can direct the Commission and access its information (ss 10, 10A); the Treasurer approves borrowing, banking arrangements, investment prudential requirements and transfers of surplus and may guarantee obligations (ss 7(2)(a), 7(2)(c), 18, 19, 19A, 24–27).\n\n- Behaviour changes: the Act makes the Commission an entity authorised to run statutory insurance schemes and to act commercially to manage, invest and transfer funds on terms set between the board, Minister and Treasurer (ss 6–7; ss 16–19; ss 28–30). That structure creates incentives to generate fee and investment income and to manage reserves, while subjecting certain financial outcomes to Minister/Treasurer decisions.\n\nKey sections cited for reference: ss 3, 3A, 4–5, 6–10B, 11–14, 14A–14C, 15–19A, 20–23, 24–30, 42–45, Sch 1."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has expanded significantly beyond its original 1986 scope. Originally established to replace the State Government Insurance Office, the Act has grown to include: management of the catastrophic injuries support scheme (added 2016), coverage for eligible community organisations (added 2002), strategic development plans and statements of corporate intent (added 2006), detailed dividend payment schemes to the State (added 2013), and complex transitional arrangements for workers compensation legislative changes (2023). The financial management provisions have also been substantially elaborated from basic accounting requirements to sophisticated investment management, borrowing controls, and specific dividend calculation methodologies."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping funds with specific purposes (5 statutory funds plus potential community organisation funds)","Extensive cross-referencing to other Acts including Financial Management Act 2006, Auditor General Act 2006, Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023, and Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act 1943","Complex governance structure with board of commissioners, managing director, and various delegations","Detailed financial provisions including dividend calculations, borrowing powers, and fund transfers requiring Treasurer approval","Transitional provisions spanning multiple amendment acts with conditional commencement dates","27 defined terms in the interpretation section, some with nested definitions (e.g., 'commissioner' includes managing director ex officio)","Schedule 1 contains 11 clauses governing board procedures including alternate commissioners, pecuniary interest disclosures, and remote meeting provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"This legislation establishes and governs the **Insurance Commission of Western Australia (ICWA)**, a government-owned corporation that provides insurance and risk management services.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Creates a state insurance provider**: ICWA is a body corporate (a legal entity separate from the government) that operates as an agent of the Crown (government) with special legal protections.\n- **Manages compulsory insurance schemes**: It handles **compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance** for motor vehicles (covering injuries to others in accidents) and manages the **catastrophic injuries support scheme** for severe motor vehicle and workplace accidents.\n- **Provides insurance for government and community groups**: It arranges insurance and risk management for **public authorities** (government agencies) and **eligible community organisations** (non-profits and associations approved by the Treasurer).\n- **Handles legacy workers' compensation**: It continues to manage liabilities for workers' compensation claims from before recent legislative changes.\n- **Invests funds**: It manages investment portfolios for the various insurance funds it maintains, subject to Treasurer approval and prudential requirements.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Western Australian drivers**: Anyone registering a vehicle needs CTP insurance through this scheme.\n- **Government agencies**: All public authorities use ICWA for their insurance needs.\n- **Community organisations**: Eligible non-profits can access insurance through ICWA.\n- **People with catastrophic injuries**: Those severely injured in motor vehicle or workplace accidents receive support through schemes managed by ICWA.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis Act ensures that essential insurance coverage remains available in Western Australia, particularly for high-risk or compulsory areas where private insurers might be reluctant to participate. It also ensures that government and community groups can access affordable risk management. The Act establishes strict financial controls, requiring the Commission to maintain separate funds for different insurance types, pay dividends to the State, and operate under the oversight of a board of commissioners appointed by the Governor."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/insurance-commission-of-western-australia-act-1986","history":"/api/acts/insurance-commission-of-western-australia-act-1986/history","analysis":"/api/acts/insurance-commission-of-western-australia-act-1986/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/insurance-commission-of-western-australia-act-1986/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/insurance-commission-of-western-australia-act-1986/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/insurance-commission-of-western-australia-act-1986/documents"}}