{"id":"police-assistance-compensation-act-1964","name":"Police Assistance Compensation Act 1964","slug":"police-assistance-compensation-act-1964","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":106171,"registerId":"wa-police-assistance-compensation-act-1964-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Police Assistance Compensation Act 1964","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nPolice Assistance Compensation Act 1964\n\nWestern Australia\n\nPolice Assistance Compensation Act 1964\n\nContents\n\n1. Short title 1\n\n2. Commencement 1\n\n3. Act to bind Crown 1\n\n4. Terms used 1\n\n5. Compensation for personal injuries suffered while assisting police 2\n\n6. Resolving questions as to entitlements 4\n\n7. Remedy against wrongdoer 4\n\n8. Power of ICWA to issue policy 5\n\n9. Certain amounts payable from Consolidated Account 5\n\n10. Offences 5\n\n11. Regulations 6\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 7\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nWestern Australia\n\nPolice Assistance Compensation Act 1964\n\nAn Act to provide for the payment of compensation to persons injured while assisting police officers in the execution of their duty, and to dependants of those persons and for incidental and other purposes.\n\n##### 1. Short title\n\nThis Act may be cited as the *Police Assistance Compensation Act 1964*.\n\n##### 2. Commencement\n\nThis Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by proclamation.\n\n##### 3. Act to bind Crown\n\nThis Act binds the Crown.\n\n##### 4. Terms used\n\n(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears —\n\n  Minister for Police means the Minister of the Crown to whom the administration of the *Police Act 1892* is for the time being committed by the Governor, and includes any Minister of the Crown for the time being discharging the duties of the office of the first mentioned Minister;\n\n  police officer means any person appointed under Part I of the *Police Act 1892*.\n\n(2) Expressions used in this Act have the same respective meanings as in the *Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023*.\n\n[Section 4 amended: No. 42 of 2004 s. 175; No. 19 of 2010 s. 51; No. 21 of 2023 s. 709(2).]\n\n##### 5. Compensation for personal injuries suffered while assisting police\n\n(1) A person, other than a police officer, who suffers an injury arising out of or in the course of assisting or attempting to assist a police officer in arresting another person or in preserving the peace or in otherwise acting or apparently acting in the execution of his duty, as a police officer —\n\n(a) after being requested to do so by the police officer; or\n\n(b) in circumstances from which the person reasonably inferred that he had been so requested, or in circumstances from which he could have reasonably inferred that he would have been so requested, if the police officer had been aware of those circumstances and had been able to request him to so assist,\n\nand the dependants of the person so injured are entitled to be paid compensation as provided in this section.\n\n(2) The compensation referred to in subsection (1) shall be paid —\n\n(a) by the Minister for Police as representing the Crown but without imposing any personal liability upon the occupant of the office of Minister for Police; and\n\n(b) in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the *Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023*, and the rules and regulations made thereunder, as if within the meaning of that Act at the date the person so suffered the injury —\n\n(i) he were a worker employed by the Crown and his average weekly earnings were not less than the basic wage; and\n\n(ii) he suffered the injury in the course of employment with the Crown.\n\n(3) Subject to subsection (4), when a person who assists or attempts to assist a police officer as provided in subsection (1), suffers damage to or destruction of any property that belongs to him or that is in his possession or under his control, if the damage or destruction arises out of or in the course of his so assisting or attempting to so assist the police officer, the Minister for Police may in his discretion, and whether or not the person suffers injury as so provided, pay to the owner of the property such compensation for the damage or destruction as the Minister thinks reasonable.\n\n(4) The amount of compensation that may be paid under subsection (3) shall not exceed —\n\n(a) in the case of a claim by a person such amount as may be prescribed; and\n\n(b) in the case of a claim by a number of persons arising out of the same incident, such amount in the aggregate as may be prescribed.\n\n(5) A person is not entitled to recover both damages in respect of damage or destruction to any property referred to in subsection (3), and compensation under this section in respect thereof, and if a person so recovers both damages and compensation the amount of the compensation may be recovered from the person by the Minister for Police by proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction as a debt due by that person to the Crown.\n\n(6) Where pursuant to this Act any amount is paid to any person, under the age of 21 years, his receipt therefor shall be a sufficient discharge.\n\n[Section 5 amended: No. 42 of 2004 s. 167(2)-(4) and 175; No. 19 of 2010 s. 51; No. 21 of 2023 s. 709(2).]\n\n##### 6. Resolving questions as to entitlements\n\nWithout limiting the generality of the provisions of section 5(1) and (2), where any question or matter arises under those provisions, including any question as to whether a person is entitled to compensation thereunder, the amount thereof or the existence and extent of dependency, the matter is to be dealt with under the *Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023* as if it were a dispute that arose under that Act; and such of the provisions of that Act as are capable of applying in relation to the matter apply, with such modifications as are necessary.\n\n[Section 6 amended: No. 34 of 1999 s. 61; No. 42 of 2004 s. 167(5); No. 21 of 2023 s. 709(2).]\n\n##### 7. Remedy against wrongdoer\n\nSubject to the terms of any relevant policy of insurance issued pursuant to section 8, where compensation has been paid pursuant to section 5, if the personal injury, damage or destruction in respect of which the compensation was paid, was caused under circumstances creating a liability in some person, other than a police officer, to pay damages in respect thereof, the Minister for Police as representing the Crown, may take proceedings against that person in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover from him the amount of the compensation or such portion thereof as the court determines.\n\n##### 8. Power of ICWA to issue policy\n\nThe Insurance Commission of Western Australia continued under the *Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986*, is hereby authorised to issue under that Act to the Minister for Police on behalf of the Crown, a policy of insurance for the full amount —\n\n(a) of the liability to pay compensation for personal injury to persons and their dependants who are entitled thereto pursuant to this Act; and\n\n(b) of any compensation paid by the Minister for Police pursuant to section 5(3),\n\nand that Minister is authorised to obtain such a policy or policies of insurance.\n\n[Section 8 amended: No. 45 of 1996 s. 38.]\n\n##### 9. Certain amounts payable from Consolidated Account\n\nThe amount of —\n\n(a) any compensation paid pursuant to section 5, except where the Minister for Police has been paid the amount thereof under and in accordance with a policy of insurance obtained pursuant to section 8;\n\n(b) any premiums payable in respect of a policy of insurance issued pursuant to section 8;\n\n(c) any expenses incurred in the administration of this Act,\n\nshall be charged to the Consolidated Account from money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose.\n\n[Section 9 amended: No. 6 of 1993 s. 11; No. 49 of 1996 s. 64; No. 77 of 2006 s. 4.]\n\n##### 10. Offences\n\nA person who, in or in connection with any claim for compensation under this Act, wilfully makes any false statement to or otherwise wilfully misleads or attempts to mislead any other person is guilty of an offence against this Act.\n\nPenalty: $1 000.\n\n[Section 10 amended: No. 78 of 1995 s. 147.]\n\n##### 11. Regulations\n\nThe Governor may make regulations providing for such matters as are contemplated by or necessary for giving full effect to the provisions of this Act and for the due administration thereof.\n\n![dline]()\n\nNotes\n\nThis is a compilation of the *Police Assistance Compensation Act 1964* 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.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Short title** | **Number and year** | **Assent** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *Police Assistance Compensation Act 1964* | 59 of 1964 (13 Eliz. II No. 59) | 4 Dec 1964 | 11 Jun 1965 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 11 Jun 1965 p. 1765) |\n| **Reprint of the *Police Assistance Compensation Act 1964* authorised 5 Aug 1982**   (includes amendments listed above) | | | |\n| *Financial Administration Legislation Amendment Act 1993* s. 11 | 6 of 1993 | 27 Aug 1993 | 1 Jul 1993 (see s. 2(1)) |\n| *Sentencing (Consequential Provisions) Act 1995* s. 147 | 78 of 1995 | 16 Jan 1996 | 4 Nov 1996 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 25 Oct 1996 p. 5632) |\n| *Acts Amendment (ICWA) Act 1996* s. 38 | 45 of 1996 | 25 Oct 1996 | 1 Oct 1997 (see s. 2 and *Gazette*  23 Sep 1997 p. 5357) |\n| *Financial Legislation Amendment Act 1996* s. 64 | 49 of 1996 | 25 Oct 1996 | 25 Oct 1996 (see s. 2(1)) |\n| *Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment Act 1999* s. 61 | 34 of 1999 | 5 Oct 1999 | 15 Oct 1999 (see s. 2(2) and *Gazette* 15 Oct 1999 p. 4889) |\n| **Reprint of the *Police Assistance Compensation Act 1964* as at 1 Nov 2002**   (includes amendments listed above) | | | |\n| *Workers’ Compensation Reform Act 2004* s. 167 and 175 | 42 of 2004 | 9 Nov 2004 | s. 167(1) and (5) and 175: 4 Jan 2005 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 31 Dec 2004 p. 7131);    s. 167(2)-(4): 14 Nov 2005 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 31 Dec 2004 p. 7131 and 17 Jun 2005 p. 2657);   Para (b) of proclamation published 31 Dec 2004 p. 7131 revoked (see *Gazette* 17 Jun 2005 p. 2657) |\n| *Financial Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2006* s. 4 | 77 of 2006 | 21 Dec 2006 | 1 Feb 2007 (see s. 2(1) and *Gazette* 19 Jan 2007 p. 137) |\n| *Standardisation of Formatting Act 2010* s. 51 | 19 of 2010 | 28 Jun 2010 | 11 Sep 2010 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 10 Sep 2010 p. 4341) |\n| **Reprint 3: The *Police Assistance Compensation Act 1964* as at 1 Aug 2014**   (includes amendments listed above) | | | |\n| *Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023* s. 709 | 21 of 2023 | 24 Oct 2023 | 1 Jul 2024 (see s. 2(d) and SL 2024/34 cl. 2) |\n\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\nMinister for Police 4(1)\n\npolice officer 4(1)\n\n© State of Western Australia 2024.\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 2024.\n\nBy Authority: GEOFF O. LAWN, Government Printer\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Act’s core scope—compensation for non‑police injured while assisting police and for their dependants—remains unchanged. Recent amendments primarily align administrative and adjudicative mechanics with the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023 and clarify insurance and funding arrangements (notably ss 5(2), 6, 8 and 9), rather than expanding or narrowing who is covered."},"complexity_factors":["Cross‑reference and application of the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023 to determine entitlement, amounts and dispute resolution (ss 5(2), 6).","Mixture of statutory entitlement (personal injury) and Ministerial discretion (property damage payments limited by prescribed caps) (ss 5(1), 5(3)–(4)).","State bears financial responsibility but may insure through the Insurance Commission of WA; premiums and payments are charged to the Consolidated Account (ss 8, 9).","Right of the Crown to sue a third‑party wrongdoer to recover compensation already paid, subject to any insurance policy (s 7).","Factual and legal tests embedded in who qualifies (e.g. ‘requested’ or ‘reasonably inferred’ request), producing case‑by‑case assessments (s 5(1)(a)–(b)).","Criminal offence for wilfully false or misleading statements in claims (s 10) increases compliance risk and need for verification.","Delegated regulation‑making powers and prescribed limits create secondary‑legislation dependencies (ss 5(4), 11).","Definitions and Crown‑binding clause affect application and interaction with other statutes (ss 3–4)."],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, the Act requires the Minister for Police (the Crown) to pay compensation to non‑police people (and their dependants) who are injured while assisting or attempting to assist police, applying the state workers’ compensation rules; it also permits discretionary payments for property damage, authorises ICWA insurance, and allows recovery from a third‑party wrongdoer. This matters because it assigns the financial burden to the Crown (paid from the Consolidated Account or insurance), creates a penalty for false claims, and ties entitlements to the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023."},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope assessment is not possible as the legislative text was not retrievable. No content was available to compare against the Act's original intent."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative text was available for analysis — only an error page was returned","Complexity cannot be meaningfully assessed without the actual content of the Act","The score of 1 reflects the absence of data, not the inherent simplicity of the law"],"plain_english_summary":"## ⚠️ Content Unavailable\n\nThe text of the **Police Assistance Compensation Act 1964 (WA)** could not be retrieved. The page hosting this Western Australian legislation is no longer available at its original web address due to system and security upgrades on the Parliamentary Counsel's Office website.\n\n**What we do know from the title alone:**\n- This is a **Western Australian law** that has been in place since **1964**\n- Its name suggests it deals with **compensation** for people who **assist police** — likely covering civilians who are injured or suffer loss while helping police officers in the course of their duties\n- It would be relevant to **ordinary members of the public** who step in to help law enforcement and suffer harm as a result\n\n**To access the actual legislation**, visit the Western Australian Parliamentary Counsel's Office website (www.legislation.wa.gov.au) and search for the Act by name."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose of compensating civilians injured while assisting police. While the Act has been updated to reference modern workers' compensation legislation (most recently the 2023 Act), these are mechanical amendments to maintain alignment with the state's broader compensation framework rather than expansions of scope. The core trigger—injury arising from assisting police—has remained unchanged since 1964."},"complexity_factors":["Short statute: only 11 sections spanning approximately 6 pages","Minimal defined terms: only 2 terms defined in the Act itself ('Minister for Police' and 'police officer')","Heavy reliance on external legislation: core compensation mechanics are imported entirely from the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023 via incorporation by reference (section 5(2))","Simple conditional structure: single main condition (assisting police) with two alternative limbs (actual request or reasonable inference of request)","Limited exceptions: only one significant exclusion (no double recovery of property damages under section 5(5))","No nested definitions or recursive cross-references within the Act itself","Administrative machinery is minimal: disputes handled by external statute (section 6), insurance arrangements delegated to ICWA (section 8)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Western Australian law creates a safety net for ordinary people who get hurt while helping police officers do their job.\n\n**What it does:**\nIf you are injured while assisting a police officer—whether they asked for your help, or you reasonably believed they would have asked if they could—you can claim compensation. This also covers your dependants (family members who relied on you financially) if you die from those injuries.\n\n**How compensation works:**\nThe law treats you as if you were a government employee covered by Western Australia's workers' compensation system. This means you get the same benefits (medical costs, lost wages, etc.) as someone injured at work, even though you were just a member of the public trying to help.\n\n**Property damage:**\nIf your belongings are damaged or destroyed while you're helping police, the Minister for Police can choose to pay you compensation for that too—up to limits set by regulations.\n\n**Who pays:**\nThe government pays, but they can take out insurance to cover the costs. If someone else caused your injury (for example, a criminal you were helping arrest), the government can sue that person to get the money back.\n\n**Key protections:**\n- You can't double-dip—if you sue the wrongdoer for damages AND get compensation under this Act, you may have to pay the compensation back.\n- It's an offence to lie or mislead anyone when making a claim (maximum fine: $1,000).\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis law removes the financial risk of helping police. Without it, a Good Samaritan injured while tackling a fleeing thief or helping at a riot could face massive medical bills and no income, with no employer's workers' compensation to fall back on."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/police-assistance-compensation-act-1964","history":"/api/acts/police-assistance-compensation-act-1964/history","analysis":"/api/acts/police-assistance-compensation-act-1964/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/police-assistance-compensation-act-1964/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/police-assistance-compensation-act-1964/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/police-assistance-compensation-act-1964/documents"}}