Duggan v Workers' Compensation Regulator [2024] ICQ 13 involves an appeal by Cornelius Duggan against the decision of the Workers' Compensation Regulator to reject his compensation claim for a psychological injury. Duggan, employed as a groundsman at a primary school, claimed he suffered a psychological injury due to complaints made against him by a colleague, which were communicated to him by the school principal. The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission found that Duggan's injury, which was diagnosed on 18 July 2019, fell under the exclusion of s 32(5) of the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, which applies to injuries resulting from reasonable management action taken in a reasonable way. Duggan appealed, arguing the injury was caused by the complaints themselves and asserting several grounds including factual errors by the Commission. However, the Industrial Court dismissed the appeal, concluding that the injury arose from the management action and that the Commission correctly identified the injury date and correctly applied the statutory exclusions. The Court upheld the Commission's decision, finding no error in law or jurisdiction.
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