IMPORTANT INFORMATION - Effective 1 November 2010
If you are lodging an appeal against a review decision on a claims
matter your application must be lodged with the Queensland
Industrial Relations Commission (the Industrial Magistrates Court
will only accept appeal applications against review decisions on
premium matters).
Workers, claimants and employers who are unhappy with a Q-COMP
review decision can appeal to the Queensland Industrial Relations
Commission (QIRC) within 20 business days of receiving the
decision. Q-COMP defends the review decision in the Commission. The
parties to an appeal are:
- the appellant-the person who files the appeal
- the respondent-Q-COMP.
If your employer appeals a review decision, you have a right as
a worker or claimant to join the court action as a party to the
appeal. Tell the Commission if you want to make representations to
the Commission during the appeal. You pay the costs of any
solicitor or third party that you hire. Contact the Queensland Law
Society or the Workers' Compensation Advisory Service (Queensland
Council of Unions toll free: 1800 102 166) for more information on
how they can help. You don't need to be a member of a union to
contact the QCU.
On receipt of the appeal a Q-COMP appeals officer is allocated
to manage the case. You can contact the appeals officer at
anytime to ask questions or discuss the case with them.
Step 1: Prepare your written
Notice of Appeal
When preparing your Notice of Appeal to the QIRC, use the form
located on their website (under Forms - Appeals against Q-COMP Review
Decisions). Explain why you are unhappy with the review
decision (these are the 'grounds of your appeal'). This may assist
in the appeal process.
Step 2: File your appeal within 20
business days of receiving the review decision
File your written Notice of Appeal in person, by post or by fax*
to:
Queensland Industrial Relations Commission
13th Floor Central Plaza 2
66 Eagle Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000
*post the original if faxing
Step 3: Send a copy of the Notice
of Appeal to Q-COMP within 10
business days of filing in the Commission.
Send to :
Q-COMP Appeals Unit
PO Box 10119
Adelaide Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Step 4: Appear at the Commission
'callover'
The Commission sends you a notice with a date to appear at
a 'callover'-the appeal is not determined at this
time. Before the callover, you could discuss your
matter with one of our appeals officers and consider seeking your
own legal advice. At callover, the Commission will need to
know:
- whether you are ready to proceed with the hearing
- the number of witnesses you intend to call to give evidence to
prove your case and their availability
- how long the hearing is likely to take.
They will then set a hearing date.If you choose to meet with
Q-COMP at a conference, the Commission will contact you to arrange
a time. A Commissioner attends the conference to help the parties
to discuss the issues and try to resolve the appeal without a
hearing. If the appeal is not resolved, the Commissioner will order
the matter be listed for a callover and a hearing date set. If you
are not ready to go to a hearing, your matter may be given a
'mention' date where the parties must again let the Commission know
if they are ready to proceed.
Note: the Commission will issue a Directions
Order with orders to be completed by the parties before the
hearing.
Step 5: Attend the
hearing
You must prove your case 'on the balance of probabilities' and
you will need to call witnesses including yourself, to give
evidence to support your appeal. You arrange for your witnesses,
including doctors, to give evidence, and pay any costs involved.
The parties must exchange copies of any relevant document/s that
you may rely on before the hearing at least ten business days prior
but this can occur at any time.
There is no jury. The Commissioner will hear both sides of the
appeal and decide (either on the day or at a later date) based on
the facts and evidence presented as evidence during the
hearing.
Step 6: Pay any appeal
costs
You may have to pay appeal costs if:
- you engage a solicitor or a third party to assist you in the
appeal
- your appeal is unsuccessful and the Commission orders appeal
costs against you-Q-COMP's costs will include barrister briefings,
calling witnesses and obtaining documents.
Any costs awarded by the Commission will be paid according to
Schedule 3 scale "E" Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999
and will not cover your entire costs.
Step 7: Appeal to the Industrial
Court within 21 days if you're not happy with the Commission
decision
Use the form from the Industrial Court of Queensland
website www.qirc.qld.gov.au.
Important note: The decision of the
Industrial Court is final.