No matter how hard they work higher degree research students in Queensland universities are not workers
The state workers’ compensation regulator rules HDR research students are not workers unless contracted by universities to actually do stuff for them (CMM July 8 2019, CMM Jan 20 2020). It sets aside the Queensland Worker’s Compensation Regulator charging universities insurance payments for HDR students and four claims by students.
The ruling covers all Queensland unis, plus cross-border Southern Cross U.