Case studies demonstrate a better deal for injured workers

3/5/04
New case studies are providing simple demonstrations of how Western Australia's injured workers will benefit from reforms to workers compensation, according to Consumer and Employment Protection Minister John Kobelke.
"Case studies have been prepared to give examples of how much better off individuals will be after the reforms, compared with the current system," Mr Kobelke said.
"The improvements will come from a major overhaul of the workers' compensation system and provide more than $130million in extra benefits in the first year."
The Minister said 40,000 injured workers needed compensation each year in WA and the Gallop Government would deliver fairness, balance and certainty for them.
"Because it affects individuals and their families we have boosted the benefits system that all workers have access to, if they are injured while they are on the job," he said.
The Minister said better injury management and dispute resolution procedures would help speed up cases and remove much of the stress that plagued the current system.
"In such a sweeping improvement of the entire system, it's important to see how it applies specifically to individual injured workers and how it will protect regular income," he said.
"If injured workers choose to sue their employers for negligence, through common law, we have reforms that will make the process fairer, but also provide more time for injured workers to take up the option where their medical condition has not stabilised."
Mr Kobelke said there would be more certainty in common law access for injured workers, because WA would adopt the same impairment assessment as other States.
"We need change, because current compensation benefits leave many workers out of pocket and we have designed a more supportive, more efficient new system," he said.
Minister's office: 9222 9211 http://www.workerscomp.wa.gov.au