The 29th edition of the Comparison of Workers’ Compensation Arrangements in Australia and New Zealand (the report) provides information on the operation of workers’ compensation schemes in each of the jurisdictions in Australia and New Zealand. The report provides background information and discusses the way each scheme deals with key issues including coverage, benefits, return to work provisions, self-insurance, common law, dispute resolution and cross-border arrangements.

The majority of tables in this report, unless otherwise indicated, provide a snapshot of workers’ compensation arrangements as at 31 December 2023. As each jurisdiction may vary its arrangements from time to time and there may be some exceptions to the arrangements described in this edition of the report, readers wanting more up-to-date information should check with the relevant workers’ compensation authority.

On behalf of the Heads of Workers’ Compensation Authorities, the Victorian WorkCover Authority produced this publication from 1993 to 2005. The Australian Safety and Compensation Council took over responsibility for the report in 2006 and produced it in 2006 and 2007. Safe Work Australia has been producing the report since 2008. The work of the Victorian WorkCover Authority and the Australian Safety and Compensation Council in developing previous editions of the report is acknowledged.

Safe Work Australia thanks representatives from each jurisdiction for the valuable assistance they have provided in producing this 29th edition of the Comparison of Workers’ Compensation Arrangements in Australia and New Zealand report.