19/09/05
Injured Western Australian workers will be able to go back to work earlier and in better health under upcoming Gallop Government workers' compensation legislation.
Opening Injury Management Week 2005 today, Consumer and Employment Protection Minister John Kobelke said the laws that would come into effect on November 14 would simplify the system for resolving disputes over entitlements and improve injury management processes.
Mr Kobelke said they would complete a series of legislative reforms which started to take effect in January, to fix problems in legislation inherited from the Court government.
"Under the last Liberal government, benefits to injured workers were inadequate, common law access and dispute resolution mechanisms were complex, there was insufficient support for injury management and premiums were at unacceptably high levels," he said.
"The new WA workers' compensation system will simplify dispute resolution and access to sue in common law and improve the way workplace injuries are managed.
"In short, it will establish greater fairness, balance and certainty for both workers and employers."
The Minister said the laws introduced in January increased the cap on weekly benefits for injured workers from $1,084 to $1,446 per week, and then $1,522 on July 1.
"It is important that injured workers receive appropriate financial support as they recover from workplace injuries but also that they are given every assistance to return to work," he said.
"The new system will require workers, employers and doctors to work together to manage workplace injuries and, in particular requires the development of return-to-work programs for injured workers where necessary."
Injury Management Week, September 19-23, is co-ordinated by WorkCover WA to provide education and information opportunities to stakeholders in injury management.
On average, a WA worker is injured seriously enough to require time off work every 25 minutes and one dies from injuries sustained while earning a living every 16 days.
During 2003-2004, more than 19,000 WA workers made workers' compensation claims for lost time, injury or disease.
Mr Kobelke said that while legislative reform was important, prevention was better than cure.
"If we get our Occupational Safety and Health right we can reduce the economic, social and psychological costs of occupational accidents and disease and the costs of the workers' compensation system on both employers and workers," he said.
"Every worker should be able to go to work in the morning secure in the knowledge that they will return home safely in the evening."
More information about Injury Management Week, which includes country events, is available at http://www.workcover.wa.gov.au
Minister's office: 9222 9211
