What happens when I cannot meet my financial repayments due to injury, illness and hardship?
Often when someone has suffered an injury, illness or hardship they are no longer able to work or are not working in their full capacity. If this is the situation then things can become financially strained as a result. For example reductions in weekly payment occur after a certain period of time for those on Workers Compensation payments. If you are concerned you will not be able to meet your loan repayments, then you should be aware there is Commonwealth Legislation enabling you to make an application to your lending institution and request they change the terms of your lending contract on the grounds of hardship. This legislation is the National Credit Code, and section 72 deals specifically with changing the terms of your contract on the grounds of hardship....
Some thoughts on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Recently the productivity commission handed down a draft report in to what was the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The draft report was handed down recently and there is a headline cost of around $11.5 billion per annum for the provision of these types of supports across Australia. Evidently the states and the commonwealth currently spend around $6.3 billion and so this change requires an increase in funding of about $6 billion. In any event that draft recommendation and the costing seems to have gained almost universal support from politicians. In my view the NDIS by itself is a good idea and should certainly be looked at seriously. The ALA to date has supported the type of change that has been envisaged. Unfortunately the Productivity Commission went...
What should I do if I am injured at work?
If a worker is injured whilst at work or suffers a disease which is caused by his or her work, he or she may be entitled to receive compensation under the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988. You should be aware of the following legal requirements and issues: If you are injured at work or if you suffer from a disease which you believe is caused or contributed to by your work, you should immediately give notice to your employer as to what has happened and what the result of that is. For instance, you should tell your immediate supervisor, “I have just tripped and fallen and I have hurt my neck,” or words to that effect. This needs to be done as soon as is practicable after the injury occurs. If you do not give notice to your employer in...
What should I do if I am injured in a motor vehicle accident?
If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident in Tasmania, you should be aware of the following legal consequences and requirements: You should not leave the scene of an accident until you have reported the accident to Tasmania Police. Leaving the scene of an accident can result in a prosecution in certain circumstances. If you are injured in the accident, or if anyone is injured in the accident, it is necessary to report the accident to police to qualify for payments from the Motor Accidents Insurance Board (the M.A.I.B). Anyone who is injured in a motor vehicle accident in Tasmania is covered by the statutory payments available under the Motor Accidents (Liabilities and Compensation) Act 1973. This legislation provides that the Motor Accidents Insurance...