PIC News No. 92

Keep up to date with the latest news edition issued by the Personal Injury Commission

Latest news
Show more

PIC News No. 92

17 Feb 2026

Keep up to date with the latest news edition issued by the Personal Injury Commission

Earlier this month, changes to the Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2025 passed through NSW Parliament. This was the second Act dealing with workers compensation passed in recent months. We will be dealing with these changes in a methodical and orderly fashion as detailed below. Please be assured we will keep tribunal users updated as this progresses while continuing to focus on our current work priorities.

That includes managing the significant dispute filings the Commission continues to receive across both the Motor Accidents and Workers Compensation Divisions. A range of initiatives are being implemented to respond. 

The Supreme Court recently handed down its decision in Kewin which confirms that it is for the Commission to determine whether a medical dispute exists for the purpose of s 7.20 of the MAIA. As such, I remind practitioners that applications for threshold injury disputes must include medical evidence supporting the asserted injury classification.

Practitioners are also reminded that all motor accident medical dispute applications, with the exception of permanent impairment, must include documentation showing the internal review status, otherwise they may be rejected.

On 24 March, the Commission will join with the Australian Institute of Administrative Law (NSW) for a joint seminar on administrative law issues and the Personal Injury Commission, chaired by Justice John Griffiths, Acting Judge of the NSW Court of Appeal. Please save the date.

Artificial intelligence remains a priority issue for the Commission due to the risks it poses to the administration of justice, and I will deliver several speeches on this and other topics in the coming weeks. Please keep an eye out for copies of these speeches on the Commission’s website, and I will continue to discuss this topic in future editions of the Personal Injury Commission News.

Finally, this month we kicked off our first reference group meetings for the year, which commences our regular engagement with legal and CTP insurer representatives on key activities and issues for the year. I look forward to our ongoing collaboration with tribunal users throughout the rest of 2026

Regards,

Judge Gerard Phillips
President

Read the full edition of PIC News No. 92

Print