Injury
Compensation
The Injury Compensation Committee focuses on all aspects of personal injuries law, its development and amendment, plus the impact of change on the profession and the public.
Learn more about committees
Current committee members
How to join a committee
Compulsory third party reforms which commenced on 1 December 2017
The Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 came into force on 1 December 2017 and introduced a new compulsory third party scheme in NSW. The scheme replaced the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 scheme for accidents that occurred after commencement.
Unlike the 1999 scheme, the new Act introduced a hybrid scheme of statutory benefits and modified common law damages. Statutory benefits are payable on a no-fault basis, whereas damages are only payable where the injured person can prove fault by the owner or driver of a motor vehicle in the use or operation of the vehicle.
Workers Compensation
In June 2012 the NSW government introduced sweeping changes to the workers compensation scheme with the Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Act 2012. The 2012 Act amended the Workers Compensation Act 1987 and the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998.
There have been substantial changes to entitlements, the claims process and claims dispute process which in turn impact on the matters that are now dealt with by the Workers Compensation Commission. The 2012 Act established an independent external complaints resolution mechanism through the appointment of an independent statutory office, the Workers Compensation Independent Review Office (WIRO) one of whose responsibilities is the administration of the Independent Legal Assistance and Review Service.
Recent policy submissions
Letter to Select Committee on Birth Trauma – Inquiry into Birth Trauma – 8 August 2023
Letter to Independent Review Office – Draft ILARS Report – 14 November 2022
Letter to State Insurance Regulatory Authority – Motor Accident Guidelines CTP Care – 18 July 2022
View the Injury Compensation policy submissions archive
Statement of Medico-Legal Relations
The Law Society and the Australian Medical Association (NSW) have issued a Statement of Medico-Legal Relations, effective from 1 February 2024.
>Download the Joint Statement of Medico-Legal Relations here.
Understanding Medico-Legal Examinations brochure
The Law Society and the Australian Medical Association (NSW) have issued a brochure to assist claimants in their understanding of the medico-legal examination process:
2024 Committee list
Mr Timothy Concannon (Chair), Mr Leigh Davidson (Deputy Chair), A. Abboud, N. Baker, S. Butcher, R. Dababneh, T. Driscoll, E. Garnett, G. Guest, P. Hunt, I. Jones, K. Kennedy, C. Khoudair, C. Lehmann, A. Lopes De Lima, P. Macken, R. May, L. McLean, R. Mellor, N. Morehead, A. Mulcahy, C. Newton, P. Ohm, D. Potts, K. Sawers, T. Tancred, E. Thomson, J. Thurgood, K. Toshack, D. Weng, R. Yousef.
How to join a committee
Law Society Committees have powers, authorities and tasks delegated by the Council. Consisting of dedicated volunteers, each committee focuses on a particular area of law, pooling together specialist skills and experience in order to scrutinise legislation, court decisions and other government policies.
There are three broad categories of committees:
- Regulatory committees – perform statutory duties under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW)
- Liaison committees – linked to other professions or organisations
- Policy committees
By drawing on the insights of committees, the Law Society can meet its statutory duties and act as a major player in law reform and policy debates.