Workers’ compensation rates are lower or stable in most states and territories this financial year, according to actuarial and management consulting firm Finity.

The exceptions are Tasmania and the ACT, which are up 1% to 2.3% of wages and 8% to 2.65% respectively.

Premium rates are unchanged for Victoria (1.27%) and Queensland (1.2%).

Jurisdictions with lower rates are SA (down 29% to 1.95%) and WA (down 5% to 1.48%).

The premium rate for the Federal Government-owned workers’ compensation scheme Comcare is down 4% to 2.04% – its first drop since 2010/11 – and the New Zealand workers’ compensation rate is down 5% to 0.9%.

Premium rates for NSW are not available, but Finity says they have reduced since legislative reforms in 2012.

The report notes a consistent theme of workers’ compensation reform across Australia, which it describes as a “trade-off between scheme affordability and generosity of worker entitlements”.

Finity says reforms generally provide for tighter coverage, lifetime benefits for the most seriously injured, time limits on benefits for non-seriously injured workers, restrictions on common law, presumptive cover for firefighters and benefits for workers past pension age.