Table 4.20: Threshold impairment levels | Safe Work Australia

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	Threshold test	Waiting period	Permits discounting?
NSW	For exempt workers: Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, volunteers under the Workers Compensation (Bush Fire, Emergency and Rescue Services) Act 1987, and workers injured while working in or around a coal mine: >0% WPI, except for 15% WPI for psychiatric and psychological impairment, and 6% binaural hearing loss for hearing loss claims Entitlement to pain and suffering payment: 10% WPI for physical injuries, and 15% WPI for psychiatric and psychological injuries Entitlement to claim under common law: 15% WPI All other workers for permanent impairment claims made on and from 19 June 2012: >10% WPI, except for 15% WPI for psychiatric and psychological impairment. Entitlement to claim under common law: 15% WPI Discounting of prior conditions is tenth of the assessed impairment unless this is at odds with available evidence.	No waiting period	Yes
Vic	10% WPI for physical injuries (5% for Chapter 3 musculoskeletal impairments) 10% for hearing loss (no threshold for further hearing loss claims if 10% threshold previously breached) 30% WPI for psychiatric impairment — not arising secondary to physical injury	Minimum of 12 months or when condition has stabilised	Apportionment
Qld	5% DPI for hearing loss (s125)	No waiting period	Yes
WA	>0% (no threshold)	No waiting period	Yes for pre-existing symptomatic disease and prior impairments
SA	Non-economic loss lump sum payments available for workers with degree of whole person impairment (WPI) from physical injury 5% or more, s 58(2) Return to Work Act 2014. Economic loss lump sum available to workers whose WPI is between 5% and 34%. Seriously injured workers with a WPI of 35% or more cannot receive an economic loss lump sum. They receive income support until retirement age or until otherwise discontinued under the Return to Work Act 2014. Psychiatric disorders are assessed separately from physical injuries. For assessment of psychiatric impairment AMA5 chapter 14 is excluded and replaced by Chapter 16 Impairment Assessment Guidelines	A worker cannot be assessed until the injury has stabilised s122(6)(a)	Yes
Tas	5% WPI for physical injuries with the exception of loss of part or all of a finger or toe — s71(1) >0% WPI for loss of all or part of a finger or toe — s71(1)(d) 10% WPI for psychiatric impairment — s71(2) 5% for binaural hearing impairment caused by industrial deafness — s72A	No waiting period	Yes. refer WorkCover Tasmania Guidelines for the Assessment of Permanent Impairment, p6
ACT	0% (no threshold) 6% threshold for hearing loss (boilermaker’s deafness)	A claim for permanent injuries may not be made for 2 years after the injury unless the worker has leave from the Magistrates Court or the injury has stabilised. Injury is stabilised if the worker has returned to pre-injury weekly hours for at least 3 months s121	Yes
NT	Permanent impairment: impairment, or combination of impairments not less than 5% of the whole person – s70 If impairment is 5–14% WPI, compensation payable is calculated on a sliding scale. – s71 Impairments of 15– 84% WPI attract a benefit equal to the actual percentage given – s71 >85% WPI receives maximum entitlement – s71	No waiting period	Apportionment
Comcare	Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 10% WPI – s24(7), 5% binaural hearing loss s24(7A) At least 1% loss of fingers/toes, loss of taste/smell s24(8) Must qualify for PI to qualify for non-economic loss payment – s27(1)	No waiting period	No direct apportioning or discounting
Seacare	Seafarers, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992 10% WPI – s39(7) 10% hearing loss - s39(7) At least 1% Finger/toe, taste/smell - s39(8) Must qualify for PI to qualify for non-economic loss payment - s41(1)	No waiting period	No direct apportioning or discounting
DVA	Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) Initial compensation — 10 impairment points (IP) s69 Additional compensation — 5 IPs 5 IPs loss of hearing, fingers, toes, taste, or smell Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) s24 10% WPI 5% binaural hearing loss >0% loss of fingers/toes, loss of taste/smell Must qualify for PI to qualify for non-economic loss payment	No waiting period	MRCA Yes — apportionment DRCA No direct apportioning or discounting
NZ	10%	Independence allowance: In most cases, claimant suffered personal injury on or after 1 April 1974 and before 1 April 2002. At least one year after the date of the injury or condition has stabilised Lump sums: In most cases, claimant suffered personal injury on or after 1 April 2002. At least 2 years after day of the injury or condition stabilised	Yes — apportionment