Victoria will maintain its average rate for workers’ compensation at 1.338% for the 2011/12 financial year.

WorkSafe Chairman Elana Rubin says this is the second-lowest rate in Australia and has fallen from 2.22% of employers’ wage bills 10 years ago.

Small businesses pay a premium based on their industry while larger businesses are levied using a mix of industry performance and the employer’s claims performance.

Larger employers with a good claims record get a premium discount compared with peers in their industry who do not perform as well.

WorkCover WA recently announced its average recommended premium rate for 2011/12 would be 1.547%.

NSW has an average premium rate of 1.66% for 2010/11, Queensland 1.3% and SA 2.75%.