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Insurance premium compliance

WorkCover Queensland has Authorised Persons who can carry out administrative compliance actions to identify and administratively penalise employers who don't hold adequate workers’ compensation insurance.

WorkCover uses sophisticated data matching systems to link to Federal and State Government agencies. Under-insured or uninsured employers may also be identified through online wage audits, employer site visits or various education and awareness campaigns undertaken by WorkCover throughout the year.

For employers who are uninsured or under-insured, WorkCover can recover unpaid premium along with a penalty equal to 100% of the unpaid premium.  Also, if WorkCover has paid compensation or damages for an injury sustained by a worker when the employer was uninsured or under-insured, WorkCover can also recover the amount of the payment made together with a penalty equal to 50% of the payment.

In addition, WorkCover will refer certain matters for uninsured and under-insured employers to Workers’ Compensation Regulatory Services for investigation and possible prosecution.

WorkCover compliance activity 2023-2024 to 29 February 2024

ActivityNumber Amount recovered
Employer wage audits 405 $12,342,378
Premium raised for uninsured employers 1,178 $6,655,785
Employer site visits 215 $515,722
Action against uninsured employers where a claim was made 170 $3,971,842
Classification reviews 14 $572,596
Total1982$24,058,323

Wage audits completed by industry

Industry Wage audits
Construction 89
Accommodation and food services77
Health care and social assistance71
Retail trade26
Transport, postal and warehousing 26
Manufacturing22
Administrative and support services19
Other services19
Agriculture, forestry and fishing11
Wholesale trade10
Rental, hiring and real estate services8
Public administration and safety6
Labour hire5
Professional, scientific and technical services4
Education and training3
Mining3
Arts and recreation services2
Electricity, gas, water and waste services2
Financial and insurance services2