FEDERAL WORKERS COMPENSATION CHANGES A DANGER FOR QUEENSLAND EMPLOYEES
Published Tuesday, 06 March, 2007 at 03:12 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
New federal Government workers compensation changes create a complex unwieldy system that tie employers up in red tape and threaten worker safety.
Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said the changes allow more companies to self insure their workers compensation and to avoid state workplace health and safety laws.
“The Commonwealth Government is allowing some big employers to self-insure under its Comcare scheme, while extending to those employers coverage under the Commonwealth’s occupational health and safety legislation,” Mr Mickel said.
“Under amendments to Commonwealth laws, which come into effect on 15 March, national self-insurers and their workers are specifically excluded from state and territory workplace health and safety laws.
“This decision to regulate occupational health and safety for all national self-insurers will result in more complex, fragmented and confusing safety laws. For example, if a national self-insurer engaged a contractor covered by state laws, the workplace would be subject to two separate regulation systems - including enforcement and levels of penalties for breaches of the legislation.
“In such a case, the contractor would be stuck with more red tape, as they would have an obligation to conduct certain aspects of its work safely under the Commonwealth laws but also have an obligation under Queensland’s laws to provide a safe workplace.
“This complexity is not good for Queensland business and it is no good for Queensland workers.
“Of real concern is the potential to create a safety gap. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland employs around 240 highly trained inspectors to provide inspection, advisory and enforcement services to industry and to promote compliance with workplace health and safety laws.
“Comcare employs around 40 inspectors NATIONALLY, which will not be sufficient to provide any meaningful inspection, advisory and enforcement services or compliance audits aimed at preventing workplace injury and disease. “
Mr Mickel said that If a many companies moved to self-insurance, greater volatility may arise as Queensland’s premium pool decreases. As well, workers generally receive more generous benefits under the state system
“Comcare-covered workers are not covered for journey and recess injuries under a Bill currently before the Senate, and access to Common Law is significantly restricted.
Media Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
6 March, 2007
Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said the changes allow more companies to self insure their workers compensation and to avoid state workplace health and safety laws.
“The Commonwealth Government is allowing some big employers to self-insure under its Comcare scheme, while extending to those employers coverage under the Commonwealth’s occupational health and safety legislation,” Mr Mickel said.
“Under amendments to Commonwealth laws, which come into effect on 15 March, national self-insurers and their workers are specifically excluded from state and territory workplace health and safety laws.
“This decision to regulate occupational health and safety for all national self-insurers will result in more complex, fragmented and confusing safety laws. For example, if a national self-insurer engaged a contractor covered by state laws, the workplace would be subject to two separate regulation systems - including enforcement and levels of penalties for breaches of the legislation.
“In such a case, the contractor would be stuck with more red tape, as they would have an obligation to conduct certain aspects of its work safely under the Commonwealth laws but also have an obligation under Queensland’s laws to provide a safe workplace.
“This complexity is not good for Queensland business and it is no good for Queensland workers.
“Of real concern is the potential to create a safety gap. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland employs around 240 highly trained inspectors to provide inspection, advisory and enforcement services to industry and to promote compliance with workplace health and safety laws.
“Comcare employs around 40 inspectors NATIONALLY, which will not be sufficient to provide any meaningful inspection, advisory and enforcement services or compliance audits aimed at preventing workplace injury and disease. “
Mr Mickel said that If a many companies moved to self-insurance, greater volatility may arise as Queensland’s premium pool decreases. As well, workers generally receive more generous benefits under the state system
“Comcare-covered workers are not covered for journey and recess injuries under a Bill currently before the Senate, and access to Common Law is significantly restricted.
Media Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
6 March, 2007