WORKERS COMP PLAN GOOD FOR EMPLOYERS & EMPLOYEES
Published Wednesday, 24 October, 2007 at 01:00 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
The Federal Opposition’s commitment to work with the states on workers compensation will ensure Queensland continues to offer the lowest average premiums in Australia.
Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said the plan, outlined today by Opposition Deputy-Leader Julia Gillard, was a welcome change from the attempts at sabotage being carried out by the federal Government which started in earnest with Work Choices.
He said the Opposition’s commitment to harmonisation of state workers compensation schemes was supported by the Queensland Government, which had already signed up to changes bringing several of the states into alignment.
“The commitment to a moratorium on self insuring by large companies with the federal Comcare scheme will also protect the Queensland system and ensure it continues to set the pace for the rest of the country,” he said.
“The moratorium will keep the strong base in place, giving employers a great rate for their workers compensation and employees a quick, responsive system that treats work safety as a priority.
“Queensland already has a great system – and that’s why we have been fighting off the Commonwealth’s attempts to undermine it.
“The moratorium will stop the increase of workplaces having both Federal and State safety laws applying to workers on the same site, this will reduce red tape for businesses and stop the current confusing situation from spreading”
“Employers are more than happy with the fact we have had the lowest average premium rates for the last seven years.”
Mr Mickel said WorkCover Queensland’s rate had fallen to $1.15 per $100 of wages on 1 July this year. He said a recent independent customer research showed that injured worker satisfaction with WorkCover Queensland is also at a record high of 78.8%,” he said.
“As well as having the lowest premium rate for employers, the Queensland system has among the most generous benefits for workers, speedy claims settlement arrangements, the country’s lowest rate of disputes, and cover for some statutory payments that workers don’t get with Comcare,” he said.”
Media contact: Chris Brown 3237 1944 or Elouise Campion 3237 1125
October 24, 2007
Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said the plan, outlined today by Opposition Deputy-Leader Julia Gillard, was a welcome change from the attempts at sabotage being carried out by the federal Government which started in earnest with Work Choices.
He said the Opposition’s commitment to harmonisation of state workers compensation schemes was supported by the Queensland Government, which had already signed up to changes bringing several of the states into alignment.
“The commitment to a moratorium on self insuring by large companies with the federal Comcare scheme will also protect the Queensland system and ensure it continues to set the pace for the rest of the country,” he said.
“The moratorium will keep the strong base in place, giving employers a great rate for their workers compensation and employees a quick, responsive system that treats work safety as a priority.
“Queensland already has a great system – and that’s why we have been fighting off the Commonwealth’s attempts to undermine it.
“The moratorium will stop the increase of workplaces having both Federal and State safety laws applying to workers on the same site, this will reduce red tape for businesses and stop the current confusing situation from spreading”
“Employers are more than happy with the fact we have had the lowest average premium rates for the last seven years.”
Mr Mickel said WorkCover Queensland’s rate had fallen to $1.15 per $100 of wages on 1 July this year. He said a recent independent customer research showed that injured worker satisfaction with WorkCover Queensland is also at a record high of 78.8%,” he said.
“As well as having the lowest premium rate for employers, the Queensland system has among the most generous benefits for workers, speedy claims settlement arrangements, the country’s lowest rate of disputes, and cover for some statutory payments that workers don’t get with Comcare,” he said.”
Media contact: Chris Brown 3237 1944 or Elouise Campion 3237 1125
October 24, 2007