| Industrial deafness thresholds | |
|---|---|
| NSW | For claims made on or after 19 June 2012, the threshold for lump sum compensation for permanent impairment is greater than 10% permanent impairment — s66(1) , Workers Compensation Act 1987 Different arrangements apply to exempt workers |
| Vic | No specific level of hearing loss required to claim compensation (e.g. medical expenses) 10% hearing loss and further hearing loss required for lump sum impairment benefit — ss 61 , 62 , 211 and 213 , Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 |
| Qld | Not for the first 5% — s125 , Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 |
| WA | At least 10% hearing loss for first election — s24A , Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 Further 5% for subsequent elections — s24A , 1981 Act |
| SA | No specific thresholds required for hearing loss to be compensable, however, a lump sum for non-economic loss is only payable if there is a 5% or greater whole person impairment — s58(2) , Return to Work Act 2014 |
| Tas | 5% binaural hearing impairment — s72A(3) , Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 |
| NT | Impairments must be 5% WPI or more — s70 , Return to Work Act 1986 |
| ACT | 6% hearing loss (boilermakers deafness or similar deafness) — s64(1) , Workers Compensation Act 1951 |
| C’wealth Comcare | Binaural hearing loss of less than 5% is not payable as a permanent impairment lump sum — s24(7A) , Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 |
| C’wealth Seacare | No specific level of hearing loss required to claim compensation for medical expenses 10% hearing loss required for lump sum permanent impairment and non-economic loss benefit — s39(7) , Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992 |
| C’wealth DVA | Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) - the Statements of Principles used for determining claims for sensorineural hearing loss requires a permanent shift to a hearing threshold level of 25 decibels (dB) or more, at 500, 1 000, 1 500, 2 000, 3 000, 4 000 or 6 000 hertz (Hz) and under s69(a) — At least 5 impairment points hearing loss. Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) has no requirement for a minimum decibel shift to have occurred for liability to be accepted and under s24(7A) — Binaural hearing loss of less than 5% is not payable as a permanent impairment lump sum |
| New Zealand | 5% binaural hearing loss — s26(1A) , Accident Compensation Act 2001 |
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Table 4.9: Industrial deafness thresholds
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- Comparison of Workers’ Compensation Arrangements in Australia and New Zealand 2023 (29th Edition)
- Chapter 4: Coverage and eligibility for benefits
- Table 4.9: Industrial deafness thresholds