About us

In establishing SIRA, the Government’s intention was to 'create a consistent and robust framework to monitor and enforce insurance and compensation legislation in NSW, and to ensure that public outcomes are achieved in relation to injured people, policy affordability and scheme sustainability' (from the second reading speech of the SICG Act). SIRA’s objectives and regulatory role is set out in the Act as follows:

SIRA’s objectives and regulatory role is set out in the Act as follows:

• to promote the efficiency and viability of the insurance and compensation schemes established under the workers compensation and motor accidents legislation and the Home Building Act 1989 and the other Acts under which SIRA exercises functions
• to minimise the cost to the community of workplace injuries and injuries arising from motor accidents and to minimise the risks associated with such injuries
• to promote workplace injury prevention, effective injury management and return to work measures and programs
• to ensure that persons injured in the workplace or in motor accidents have access to treatment that will assist with their recovery
• to provide for the effective supervision of claims handling and disputes under the workers compensation and motor accidents legislation and the Home Building Act 1989
• to promote compliance with the workers compensation and motor accidents legislation and the Home Building Act 1989.

SIRA's Governance

SIRA is an independent agency located within the NSW Customer Service Cluster. The affairs of SIRA are managed and controlled by the Chief Executive in accordance with the general policies and strategic direction determined by the SIRA Board. Anything done by the Chief Executive on behalf of SIRA is taken to have been done by SIRA (section 19(3) of the SICG Act).

The functions of the SIRA Board are set out in section 18(5) of the Act and include:

• determining the general policies and strategic direction of SIRA
• overseeing the performance of SIRA
• giving the Minister any information relating to the activities of SIRA that the Minister requests
• keeping the Minister informed of the general conduct of SIRA’s activities and of any significant development in activities

While SIRA is not, in the exercise of its functions, subject to the control and direction of the Minister, the Minister may give SIRA a written direction with respect to its functions if the Minister is satisfied that it is necessary to do so in the public interest. SIRA must include in its annual report particulars of each direction given by the Minister during the reporting year.