Link to changes

In our last newsletter we reported that the NSW Government had released its Draft Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill (the ‘Exposure Draft’). To view last month's article, please click here.

On 8 May 2025 that Exposure Draft was referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice (‘the Committee’).

The Committee conducted an Inquiry into the potential impacts of the Bill, which included a public hearing on 16 May 2025.

Following that hearing, on 27 May 2025 the NSW Government introduced the Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 into the Legislative Assembly. That Bill contained some minor amendments to the Exposure Draft, and passed the Legislative Assembly (with further minor amendments) on 3 June 2025.

Having been passed in the Legislative Assembly, in order for the Bill to now become law, it must also be passed by the Legislative Council, known as the ‘Upper House’. The Bill was introduced into the Upper House on 4 June 2025. On 5 June 2025 it was agreed by that House that the Bill will be referred for an Parliamentary Inquiry ('Inquiry') to investigate the impact of the Bill. The Inquiry has announced it will be conducting a public hearing on 17 June 2025. The date by which the Inquiry must provide its report following that hearing is yet to be set.

It follows that we do not know when the findings of the Inquiry will be delivered, what those findings will be, and whether those findings will lead the NSW Government to amend the proposed Bill.

We will continue to update our clients as the legislative developments continue. In the interim, if you would like to discuss what the potential changes mean to you, your business or your clients from a workers compensation or employment law perspective, please reach out to any of our Employers Liability Partners.