[Greens-Media] Labor Put Budget Bottom Line Before Injured Workers

[Franks, Office]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE      October 30, 2014

Labor Put Budget Bottom Line Before Injured Workers

The Weatherill Labor Government and the Liberals today voted to worsen conditions for injured workers with claims under WorkCover.

Greens Industrial Relations Spokesperson Tammy Franks MLC said: "The Weatherill Labor Government has again set the bar low when it comes to the protection of injured workers' rights".

"This Bill isn't a 'Return to Work Bill' but a 'Harder to Return to Work' Bill,"

"This legislation looks like Tory legislation, but sadly is the creation of the current Labor Government. Little wonder the Liberal Leader of the Opposition told people to vote Labor; they are getting the workers compensation legislation a Liberal Government would likely have introduced.

"Time and time again in the debate the Government pointed only to the budget bottom line as evidence for their regressive reforms.  It's no surprise that even a Labor backbencher MP (Steph Key) dubbed this Bill 'draconian', although of course the strength of Labor party discipline meant even she voted for it in the end.

"Yes WorkCover is buggered, and it was the Labor Government that presided over that since 2008. Now, rather than seeking to rehabilitate WorkCover, they are adding insult to injury with this attack on injured workers' rights.

The changes supported by Labor and Liberal in this Bill now:

*             Make it harder for injured workers to qualify for WorkCover injury thresholds;
*             Limit injured workers' compensation to two years;
*             Terminate medical expenses for injured workers after 12 months; and
*             Discriminate against those who suffer from psychological trauma.

"Sadly, this Government continues to treat South Australian workers as claims rather than people. It remains to be seen how working Australians will treat Labor as a result." Ms. Franks concluded.

The Greens amendments were supported by Independent John Darley MLC and Dignity for Disability's Kelly Vincent MLC.


Media Contact: Lauren Zwaans 0457 549 938



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