Chapter 1: The operations of the Seafarers Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Authority

• 1.1 Functions of the Seacare Authority
• 1.2 Membership of the Seacare Authority in 2003 – 04
• 1.3 Deputy members of the Seacare Authority
• 1.4 Recent membership changes
• 1.5 Meeting attendance
• 1.6 Seacare Authority sub-committees
• 1.7 Public Accountability
• 1.8 Administrative Support
• 1.9 The Portfolio Budget Statement for the Seacare function
• 1.10 Other reporting requirements

1.7 Public Accountability

Consultancy Services

In 2003 – 04 the Seacare Authority commissioned five consultancies. The first three consultancies listed below were paid from the Government appropriation for administration of Seacare scheme legislation, while the latter two were paid from monies collected under the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Levy Collection Act 1992 (i.e. from the Seafarers Safety Net Fund). The five consultancies are:

• Taylor Fry Pty Ltd was engaged to collect and analyse data on Seacare scheme workers’ compensation insurance premiums, scheme liabilities, scheme legal costs and related data to assist the Authority provide inputs to the 6th National Comparative Performance Monitoring Report and for the Authority’s Annual Report. The cost of the consultancy is $13 200. Payment in full for this contract was made in 2003 – 04;
  
• Campbell Research and Consulting Pty Ltd was engaged to include Seacare scheme data in the 2003 – 04 Australasian Return to Work Monitor which surveys and reports on the return to work experience of injured workers, the outcomes of which are to be used in the 6th National Comparative Performance Monitoring Report and the Authority’s Annual Report. The cost of the consultancy is $11 968, of which $5 984 was paid during 2003 – 04;
  
• The Australian Maritime College (AMC Search Pty Ltd) is contracted on a retainer basis as the Authority’s health and safety representatives (HSR) training course accreditation adviser. The contract price is $3 000 per accredited course. In 2003 – 04, AMC Search Pty Ltd commenced the assessment of one course lodged for reaccreditation. No fees were paid for this consultancy service during 2003 – 04;
  
• The Australian Maritime Industry Compensation Agency Ltd was contracted to provide Seafarers Safety Net Fund administration services for the Authority. The contract price is $108 000 per annum (the contract was varied during 2003 – 04 to increase the service fee from $55,400 pa to $108 000, effective from 1 July 2003). $94 851 was paid during 2003 – 04. The costs of this consultancy are met from levy receipts for the Seafarers Safety Net Fund;
  
• Taylor Fry Pty Ltd was contracted to provide actuarial advice on an appropriate reserve to cover liabilities that could arise from claims on the Seafarers Safety Net Fund. The contract price was $11 750. Payment in full for this contract was made in 2003 – 04.

A total of $131 670 was paid for consultancies in 2003 – 04, comprising $5 884 for remaining payments from consultancies commissioned in previous financial years and $125 785 for consultancies commissioned or active in 2003 – 04 (of which $106 601 was paid from levy collected for the Seafarers Safety Net Fund).

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External Scrutiny

There were no external reviews into the functions of the Seacare Authority during 2003 – 04.

Social Justice

A social objective of the Seafarers Act is to ensure that seafarers are not unfairly disadvantaged because of work-related injuries. The Authority reinforces this objective by providing information about the scheme to seafarers, employers, maritime unions, industry associations, insurance companies, insurance brokers, rehabilitation providers and the legal and medical professions.

In 2003 – 04, the Authority maintained ready access to information on rights, entitlements and obligations under the Seafarers Act by:

• maintaining its internet site (www.seacare.gov. au). The website contains information on the role and functions of the Authority, membership details, publications/forms, accreditation of
  OHS training courses, exemption from the application of the Seafarers Act, contact details, relevant legislation, related sites as well as the latest news on the scheme;
  
• maintaining a separate email address
  (seacare@comcare.gov.au) for general enquiries and correspondence for the Authority;
  
• maintaining a dedicated voicemail service
  (02-6275 0070) to ensure that all inquiries
  are dealt with in an efficient and timely manner;
  and
  
• developing and distributing:

  – brochures to employers covered by the Seacare scheme and to other interested parties; and

  – Notices to Maritime Industry and Other
  Interested Parties when required.

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Access and Equity

The Seacare Authority provides information to members of the public. Information on accessing a telephone interpreter service is being included as Seacare Authority publications are reprinted.

Freedom of Information/Commonwealth Ombudsman requests, and Privacy Act matters

In 2003 – 04, the Authority received no requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, nor any inquiries from the Commonwealth Ombudsman or in relation to matters under the Privacy Act 1988.

Requests for Information

Members of the public may obtain information about the Authority or advice on how to lodge a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act by contacting:

Manager
Seacare
Seafarers Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Authority

GPO Box 9905
CANBERRA ACT 2601

Phone: (02) 6275 0070
Fax: (02) 6275 0067
Email: seacare@comcare.gov.au

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Service Charter

The Seacare Authority agreed to an Authority Service Charter for publication in January 2001. The Service Charter has been updated in harmony with the Government’s Client Service Charter Principles as published by the Department of Finance and Administration in June 2000 as well as to reflect the concerns of those in the maritime industry. Members endorsed the revised Service Charter to commence from 1 July 2001 in May 2001.

The Authority continues to place a high value on meeting the service standards set out in the Charter. In 2003 – 04 there were no complaints lodged with the Authority or Comcare regarding Authority service standards.

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1.8 Administrative Support

The Authority does not have its own staff. Comcare makes staff available to support the Seacare function, operating from a unit known as the Seacare Management Group (SMG). In 2003 – 04, there were two SMG staff, with administrative back up provided on an ad-hoc basis. The SMG, in performing its functions for the Authority, has access to Comcare legal services, financial management services, communication services and related corporate support services. The SMG is responsible for supporting the Seacare Authority and for performing the day to day regulatory functions of the Seacare Authority.

The SMG, under direction of the Authority, is responsible for:

• Provision of secretariat, policy and strategic support to the Seacare Authority, and for implementing its decisions;
  
• Administering Seacare scheme legislation and monitoring the operation of such legislation;
  
• Managing the annual appropriation for supporting the Seacare function;
  
• Monitoring, and reporting on, Seacare scheme performance;
  
• Preparing an Annual Report to Parliament;
  
• Reporting to the Minister;
  
• Liaising and communicating with scheme stakeholders and other like regulators; and
  
• Promoting the objects of the Seacare scheme, particularly to reduce the human and financial costs of workplace injury in the Australian maritime industry.

Rod Pickette, Manager, Seacare

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1.9 The Portfolio Budget Statement for the Seacare function

The Seacare function is separately identified as an Output in the Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS), issued as part of the annual Commonwealth budgetary process. It forms part of the Comcare Budget Statements. In 2003 – 04 the Seacare Output (1.5), identified as Regulation of the Seacare scheme for workers’ compensation, rehabilitation and occupational health and safety, contributed to the Comcare Outcome Minimise human and financial costs of workplace injury in the Commonwealth jurisdiction.

1.10 Other reporting requirements

As the Seacare Authority does not have its own staff, the following annual reporting requirements are reported in the Comcare Annual Report 2003 – 04:

• Corporate governance;
• Management of human resources;
• Purchasing;
• Assets management;
• Advertising and market research;
• Occupational health and safety; and
• Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance.

The Comcare Annual Report 2003 – 04 is available at www.comcare.gov.au.

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