WCC e-Bulletin No.59 - March 2015

Listing Matters

The Commission’s listing timeframe for Form 2 and Form 2D Applications to Resolve a Dispute is 35 days from the date of registration to teleconference.  If a matter does not resolve at the teleconference, it will be set down for a face-to-face conciliation and arbitration hearing three weeks from the teleconference (if there are no directions for production) or eight weeks from the teleconference
(if directions for production are issued).

Expedited assessment applications, for weekly compensation disputes up to twelve weeks and medical expenses disputes up to $8,512.10 (increasing to $8,620.90 on
1 April 2015), are being listed for teleconference 14 days from the date of registration of the dispute.

Practitioners are reminded of the need to be ready to proceed at the time of lodging an Application to Resolve a Dispute or Application for Expedited Assessment.

Regional Venues Review

The review of the Commission’s regional venues, announced in the October 2014
e-Bulletin No. 58, has been completed.

In summary, 13 current venues were removed from the Commission’s list of preferred venues and 37 new venues were added.

Ongoing feedback regarding the appropriateness of venues and alternative venues is important.  Feedback and comments may be emailed to Tony Gill, Manager, Business Services Unit ([email protected]).

Preferred Location for Con/Arb

The Application to Resolve a Dispute (Form 2 and Form 2D) allows an applicant to nominate the preferred location for a conciliation conference/arbitration hearing.

The Commission currently lists matters for con/arb in the following locations:

Albury                                     Gosford                                 Sydney

Ballina                                    Griffith                                   Tamworth

Bathurst                                Newcastle                             Taree

Broken Hill                            Orange                                  Tweed Heads

Bourke                                   Penrith                                  Wagga Wagga

Coffs Harbour                       Port Macquarie                   Wollongong

Dubbo                                    Queanbeyan

Where a preferred location is not nominated, the con/arb will be set-down in Sydney.

Contact With Arbitrators

Practitioners are reminded that it is inappropriate to contact an Arbitrator directly, outside the formal listing process, including informally discussing a matter.

Inquiries may be directed by telephone to Disputes Services Officers, who are clearly identified on Commission correspondence.  Emails should be sent to [email protected] and letters addressed to the Registrar.

User Group Meetings

The Commission meets regularly with representatives of The Law Society, Bar Association and WorkCover NSW.  The next meeting is scheduled for 3 June 2015.

While practitioners are welcome to raise issues directly with the Registrar, the option also exists to raise issues with the legal profession representatives for tabling and discussion at User Group meetings.  The legal profession representatives are  Shane Butcher, Ros Everett, Steve Harris, Andrew Mulcahy and Elizabeth Wood.

Judge Greg Keating

President