This Report has been a team effort and represents the culmination of three years of intensive work by many people. I wish to pay particular tribute to Ms Marcia Neave, who was the Research Director of the Commission until February 1984, and to Justice J R T Wood, who was a full time Commissioner until his appointment to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in January 1984. Both made a major contribution to the Accident Compensation reference and shaped its course. They have each continued to take an active interest in the reference, Ms Neave as a part-time Commissioner.

Ms Fiona Tito, Senior Legal Officer, has participated in the reference from the outset I wish to acknowledge specifically the outstanding contribution she has made to this Report. She has been primarily responsible for preparing chapters on Rehabilitation, Support Services Compensation for Permanent Disability and Hospital and Medical Services, and the statistical material in Appendix A. Without Ms Tito’s dedication, expertise and thoroughness, the Report would have been very much the poorer and very much delayed.

Professor Colin Phegan and Miss Deirdre O'Connor joined the Commission when the reference was well under way and this Report in preparation. Each played a major role in writing the Report and in formulating the recommendations. Their work has been central in bringing the Report to finality and it is a tribute to their ability and enthusiasm that they have been able to contribute so much in such a short time.

Mr Mark Richardson, the current Director of Research, has tackled the difficult task of co-ordinating and ensuring the completion of a partly written Report meticulously and diligently. He has shown great organisational ability and persistence in a role which has proved invaluable.

Ms Meredith Wilkie and Ms Judith Walker undertook important research for the Report. Ms Wilkie completed detailed research and prepared drafts for the chapters on Administration and on Decision-Making: Assessment and Appeal and performed valuable work for other chapters. Ms Walker also provided valuable research assistance.

I am grateful for the work of those who proof-read the manuscript, checked footnotes and assisted with other tedious but necessary tasks. I mention particularly Ms Shelagh Coleman, Ms Fiona Curtis, Ms Julia Hall and Maureen Tangney. The excellent work performed by the editors and indexer was also invaluable.

For this Report, as for others, the Parliamentary Counsel, Mr D R Murphy, QC, has made available the resources of his office to prepare draft legislation. Mr Michael Orpwood, Deputy Parliamentary Counsel, has undertaken the extraordinarily onerous task of preparing draft legislation. As always, Mr Orpwood has handled his task with great professional skill, insight and courtesy.

Finally, I wish to express my appreciation for the important contributions made by the administrative, library, word processing and secretarial staff. In particular, I wish to mention Ms Mariella Lizier, who was the Commission’s Secretary until August 1984, and my own Secretary, Mrs Sarah Cheillah, who is a continual source of support. The word processing of this Report has been a monumental task in which many have assisted. I mention particularly Ms Rose Ong and Ms Lorna Clarke.

Professor Ronald Sackville

Chairman