ACTIn ForceAct
Workers Compensation Act 1951
166APurpose of DI fund
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166A Purpose of DI fund
(1) This section sets out the objects of the DI fund so far as this Act
allows.
(2) The DI fund must meet the cost of compensation to an injured worker
if—
(a) the employer of the injured worker does not have a compulsory
insurance policy to cover the worker for the claim; or
(b) the employer is a prescribed employer and the injured worker is
a prescribed worker.
Note An injured worker who was a director of the employer at the time of the
injury may not make a claim against the fund, unless the injured worker
is a prescribed worker and the employer is a prescribed employer (see
s 170 (3)).
(3) The DI fund must meet the cost of compensation by indemnifying an
employer for compensation payable by the employer to an injured
worker only if—
(a) the employer has a compulsory insurance policy in force that
applies to the injured worker for the injury forming the basis of
the claim but the policy was issued by a licensed insurer that—
(ii) has been wound up; or
(b) the employer is a licensed self-insurer and the employer is
unable to pay the injured worker’s compensation.
(4) The DI fund must meet the cost of an employer’s liability that arises
independently of this Act in relation to an injury to, or the death of, a
territory worker of the employer by paying an amount that satisfies or
discharges the liability to a person entitled to that amount if—
(a) the employer of the worker does not have a compulsory
insurance policy to cover the liability; or
(b) the employer is a prescribed employer and the territory worker
is a prescribed worker.
Note An injured worker who was a director of the employer at the time of the
injury may not make a claim against the fund, unless the injured worker
is a prescribed worker and the employer is a prescribed employer (see
s 170 (3)).
(5) The DI fund must meet the cost of an employer’s liability arising
independently of this Act in relation to an injury to, or the death of, a
territory worker of the employer by indemnifying the employer, only
if—
(a) the employer has a compulsory insurance policy to cover the
liability but the policy was issued by a licensed insurer that—
(ii) has been wound up; or
(b) the employer is a licensed self-insurer and the employer is
unable to cover the liability.
Note Section 170F, s 170G, s 170H and s 170HB deal with claims for payment
against the DI fund for employers’ liability, arising independently of this
Act, in relation to injury or death of a territory worker.
166AA DI fund—compensation for imminently fatal
asbestos-related disease
(1) The DI fund must meet the cost of compensation payable to an injured
worker for an injury that is an imminently fatal asbestos-related
(2) If the DI fund pays compensation to an injured worker for an injury
that is an imminently fatal asbestos-related disease the DI fund is
entitled to recover a recoverable amount from any of the following (a
liable party) whether located in or outside the ACT:
(a) a current or former employer of the injured worker if the disease
was contracted, aggravated, accelerated, or the disease recurred,
when the worker was engaged by the employer;
(b) an entity liable in tort for the injury;
(c) an insurer for an employer mentioned in paragraph (a) or an
entity mentioned in paragraph (b).
(3) For subsection (2), the recoverable amount is the proportion of the
total amount the DI Fund has paid to the injured worker as
compensation for the injury for which the liable party is responsible,
determined by—
(a) written agreement between the DI fund manager and the liable
party; or
(b) arbitration.
(4) A recoverable amount payable by a liable party is a debt owing by the
liable party to the DI fund.