154G Agents of Nominal Insurer
(1) The Nominal Insurer may enter into arrangements (agency arrangements) by contract or otherwise for the appointment of persons to act as agent (a scheme agent) for the Nominal Insurer in connection with the exercise of any functions of the Nominal Insurer.(2) A scheme agent is, in the exercise of functions under an agency arrangement, subject to the direction and control of the Nominal Insurer as provided by the terms of the agency arrangement.(3) A person incurs no personal liability for or in connection with a liability incurred by the person as agent for the Nominal Insurer in the exercise of functions in good faith with due care and skill and within the scope of the agent’s actual authority to act.(4) This section does not limit the power of the Authority to act for the Nominal Insurer.
154H Authority’s functions not limited by agency arrangement
Nothing in an agency arrangement limits or otherwise affects the exercise by the Authority of any function of the Authority with respect to licensed insurers or scheme agents.
154I Authority’s functions extended to scheme agents
Subject to this Act, any function conferred on the Authority with respect to licensed insurers (or insurers generally) by or under a provision of this Act, the 1998 Act or the regulations under either Act may be exercised in relation to scheme agents, and for that purpose:(a) a reference to a licensed insurer or insurer in a provision conferring such a function is to be read as including a reference to a scheme agent, and(b) a reference to the conditions of a licence of a licensed insurer is to be read as including a reference to the conditions of a scheme agent’s agency arrangement with the Nominal Insurer.
154J Refusal of insurance by scheme agents
(1) A scheme agent who is authorised to issue policies of insurance on behalf of the Nominal Insurer must not refuse to issue a policy of insurance to any employer or to renew a policy of insurance issued to an employer, except with the consent of the Nominal Insurer or as required or permitted by an express provision of the agency arrangement.Maximum penalty: 1,000 penalty units.
(2) The WorkCover Guidelines under the 1998 Act may provide for the circumstances in which the consent of the Nominal Insurer as referred to in subsection (1) may be given.
(1) Subject to the regulations, all records and other documents made and kept, or received and kept, by a scheme agent in the exercise of functions on behalf of the Nominal Insurer are the property of the Nominal Insurer.(2) The Nominal Insurer may give directions to a scheme agent with respect to possession, custody and control of, and the granting of access to, those records and other documents.(3) A scheme agent must comply with any such directions given by the Nominal Insurer to the scheme agent.Maximum penalty: 1,000 penalty units.
(4) A reference in this section to a scheme agent includes a reference to a person who was formerly (but is no longer) a scheme agent.
154L Remuneration of scheme agents
(1) A scheme agent is entitled to payment by the Nominal Insurer of remuneration (whether as fees, commission or otherwise) as provided by or under the relevant agency arrangement.(2) The remuneration of scheme agents is payable by the Nominal Insurer out of the Insurance Fund.
154M Certain provisions extended to scheme agents
(1) A reference in section 163, 164 or 169 to a licensed insurer or insurer includes, in the application of the section to any matter concerning the Nominal Insurer, a reference to a scheme agent acting on behalf of the Nominal Insurer in connection with that matter.(2) Except as may otherwise be provided by the regulations, a reference in any of the following provisions of the 1998 Act to a licensed insurer or insurer includes, in the application of the provision to any matter concerning the Nominal Insurer, a reference to a scheme agent acting on behalf of the Nominal Insurer in connection with that matter:Sections 43, 45, 47, 50, 52, 56–59, 65, 66, 69, 71–75, 76, 107, 108, 113, 117, 118, 126, 136, 141, 232, 235A, 235B, 238, 260, 261, 264, 266–272, 274–276, 279, 280, 281, 282, 284, 287, 291, 295, 301, 308, 330, 337, 345 and 356.
(1) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to the following:(a) requiring the making and keeping of records by scheme agents and the giving of access to those records by scheme agents,(b) the obligations of scheme agents with respect to confidentiality and disclosure of information (including personal information),(c) the ownership, custody and control of records and other documents made and kept, or received and kept, by scheme agents.(2) The regulations may create offences, punishable by a penalty not exceeding 200 penalty units, for a contravention by a person of an obligation imposed on the person by or under an agency arrangement.(3) A reference in this section to a scheme agent includes a reference to a person who was formerly (but is no longer) a scheme agent.