No 58: October 2014
e-Bulletin No. 58 of the Workers Compensation Commission. Christmas Timetable Listing Matters Regional Venues Review
Welcome to e-Bulletin No. 58 of the Workers Compensation Commission.
This bulletin outlines:
- Christmas Timetable
- Listing Matters
- Regional Venues Review
The Commission will not list matters over the Christmas-New Year period, unless requested by the parties.
Teleconferences will be listed up to and including Friday 19 December 2014 and will re-commence on Wednesday
7 January 2015.
Con/arbs will not be listed between
19 December and 7 January except in urgent cases, by request.
Listing Matters |
New matters continue to be listed for teleconference in accordance with the Commission’s standard timeframe of 35 days from lodgment of the Application to Resolve a Dispute.
Con/arbs are being set down within the standard timeframe of three weeks from teleconference if no Directions for Production are issued and eight weeks if Directions for Production are issued. Some matters are being listed outside this time frame where the circumstances of the case require.
Given the Christmas non-listing period, con/arbs with Directions for Production are now being listed in early January 2015.
Regional Venues Review |
The Commission continually reviews its regional venues to ensure that, so far as is possible, the regional venues used are fit for purpose. In the past twelve months, the Commission has removed six venues that were deemed not suitable to conduct con/arbs and added eight new venues.
A local court is generally not the most desirable venue, both in terms of accommodating the needs of a worker and its functionality to conduct conciliation conferences and arbitration hearings, but the Commission uses local courts where alternative venues are not available or appropriate.
In November the Commission will be undertaking a full review of its regional venues, including an evaluation of the services provided by each venue.
Feedback from legal practitioners regarding the appropriateness of regional venues and alternative venues is important. Please email feedback and comments to Rod Parsons, Registrar at [email protected] by 28 November 2014.