WA is consulting on new workers’ compensation regulations after Parliament this month passed legislation to modernise laws previously described as “archaic”. 

The legislation, which is due to take effect from July next year, increases the cap on medical and health expenses and extends the point at which a worker's income compensation payments step down, from 13 to 26 weeks. 

The laws also provide catastrophically injured workers lifetime care and support, under a scheme that puts them on the same footing as a person catastrophically injured from a motor vehicle accident. 

WorkCover WA has developed 27 consultation papers covering key proposals for related regulations and administrative instruments as the focus shifts to implementation. 

Submissions on papers 1-19 are due by December 1, while the remaining papers will be released for public comment at a later date. 

Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston says modernising WA's workers compensation scheme is a major undertaking, and the new laws will allow injured workers to receive an appropriate level of financial support for medical expenses and loss of income. 

More details are available here.