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Civil Liability Reform and Volunteer Protection in Queensland

Muir, David and Devereaux, John and Telford, Paul W. and McGregor-Lowndes, Myles (2003) Civil Liability Reform and Volunteer Protection in Queensland . Technical Report Working Paper No CPNS 18, Centre of Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies, QUT.

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Abstract

In 2002, the Queensland Parliament introduced the Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002. This legislation radically changed the assessment of damages for most personal injury claims commenced in Queensland on or after 18 June 2002. The Civil Liability Act 2003 (Qld) amends the Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002 and imports into the law of Queensland provisions which alter common law principles concerning the determination of liability in civil actions commenced on or after 9 April 2003. In general, the amendments have the effect of making it more difficult for claimants to succeed in their actions. A minor element of current tort law involves the protection of volunteers from personal civil liability. Queensland has enacted the Civil Liability Act 2003 (Qld) protecting volunteers (including office holders) of community organisations from personal civil liability. America pioneered such legislation with all state and the federal jurisdiction enacting protection for volunteers from personal civil liability. This article examines the implications of the Queensland provisions and identifies issues for further consideration.

Item Type:Departmental Technical Report
Status:Published
Keywords:civil liability; volunteer protection; Queensland; civil liability reform; Civil Liability Act 2003
Subjects:390000 Law, Justice and Law Enforcement
ID Code:4551
Deposited By:Crissman, Kathryn
Deposited On:21 June 2006
Copyright Owner:Copyright 2003 QUT