In 2012–13, work-related injury and disease cost the Australian economy $61.8 billion, representing 4.1% of GDP.
- The majority of the cost (95%) was borne by individuals and society.
- Workers bore 77%, the community 18% and employers 5%.
- Injuries accounted for $28 billion (45%) of the cost.
Breakdown by state and territory
The differences in treatment of full incapacity claims between jurisdictions are likely to have a significant effect on the distribution of total costs.
- New South Wales bore 28% of the total cost from 31% of cases nationwide.
- The relative unit cost in each jurisdiction reflects the total economic cost as a proportion of gross state product. It was highest in Tasmania (7.6%), while the highest unit cost was in the Northern Territory ($183,400 per case).
Table 2.3a: Cost ($ million) of work-related injury and illness, by location of workplace, 2012–13a
|
State / territory a |
Total cost ($ million) |
Economic cost % |
Distribution (%) |
Unit cost |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Injury |
Disease |
Total |
Costs |
Cases |
Workforce |
$/case |
||
|
Tasmania |
900 |
900 |
1,800 |
7.6% |
2.9% |
2.9% |
2.0% |
117,700 |
|
South Australia |
2,100 |
2,900 |
5,000 |
5.3% |
8.1% |
8.6% |
7.0% |
110,300 |
|
Australian Capital Territory |
900 |
900 |
1,800 |
5.3% |
3.0% |
2.5% |
1.8% |
137,200 |
|
Northern Territory |
600 |
400 |
1,000 |
4.9% |
1.6% |
1.0% |
1.2% |
183,400 |
|
Victoria |
5,100 |
9,500 |
14,600 |
4.4% |
23.5% |
21.8% |
24.9% |
126,500 |
|
Queensland |
5,800 |
6,500 |
12,300 |
4.3% |
19.9% |
19.9% |
20.2% |
116,700 |
|
New South Wales |
8,700 |
8,600 |
17,300 |
3.7% |
28.1% |
30.8% |
31.3% |
106,000 |
|
Western Australia |
4,100 |
3,800 |
7,900 |
3.4% |
13.0% |
12.5% |
11.6% |
119,000 |
|
Australia |
28,200 |
33,500 |
61,700 |
4.1% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
116,400 |
a. Units are rounded to the nearest $100 million
b. Source: ABS State Accounts (Catalogue No. 5220.0), November 2010. Compared with 2009–10 estimates of reference year chained volume measures of GDP and GSP.
c. State or territory is determined by the postcode of the location where the incidence occurred.