WA WorkCover rates will fall 6.7% next financial year to an average recommended premium of 1.556% of total wages – down from 1.668% in the current year.

Chairman Greg Joyce says the drop is largely driven by continued wages growth and a fall in claim numbers.

The new rates take effect on June 30. The decrease is not applied uniformly across all 480 industry classifications.

Currently NSW has an average premium rate of 1.55%, Victoria 1.29%, Queensland 1.45% and SA 2.75%.