We are closed 5 pm Tuesday 24 December 2024, reopening Thursday 2 January 2025. You can still call 1300 366 979 to report a WHS incident or for urgent claim enquiries.

Recovering our costs

For: Employers and managers

Comcare undertakes cost recovery to fund the functions and activities of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission and Comcare.


Comcare’s cost recovery activities are subject to the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Charging for Regulatory Activities) Order 2017 (Order) and  align with the Australian Government Cost Recovery guidelines 2014 and Charging framework 2015.

In accordance with this Order, we publish Cost Recovery Implementation Statements for cost recovery activities relating to charging of the non-government sector.

Self-insurance licence fee costs

Self-insured licensees under the SRC Act are subject to annual licence fees.

These fees represent the costs incurred by the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission and Comcare in carrying out their respective functions under the SRC and WHS Acts.

For an explanation of the approach to self-insurance licence fee cost recovery, see the Cost Recovery Implementation statement 2024-25 (PDF, 963.0 KB).

Seafarers Act reconsideration costs

Comcare has a role under the Seafarers Act to provide assistance to an employer to reconsider determinations under that Act.

For the approach to cost recovery for this activity, see the Cost Recovery Implementation statement—Reconsiderations of determinations made under the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992 (2012–25) (PDF, 327.8 KB).

Approval and renewal of workplace rehabilitation provider costs

Under the SRC Act, workplace rehabilitation providers must be approved by Comcare to provide services under the Comcare scheme. An initial approval or renewal fee is payable upon application.

For the approach to cost recovery for this activity, see the Cost Recovery Implementation statement—Fee for services activities charged under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 for the approval and renewal of workplace rehabilitation providers (2019-20 to 2022-23) (PDF, 363.4 KB).

Regulatory contribution costs

Comcare charges Australian Government agencies fees, called regulatory contributions, for Comcare and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission’s functions and activities under the SRC Act and the WHS Act.

While Comcare is not required to publish a Regulatory Contributions statement, we have decided to apply the same approach and methodology to regulatory contributions as that applied to licence fees.

For an explanation of the approach to inter-governmental charging, see the Regulatory Contributions statement 2023-24 (PDF, 267.1 KB).


More information

For more information:

Page last reviewed: 31 March 2023

Comcare
GPO Box 9905, Canberra, ACT 2601
1300 366 979 | www.comcare.gov.au

Date printed 21 Dec 2024

https://www.comcare.gov.au/scheme-legislation/recovering-costs