Tuesday, 7 March 2023

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:28): My question is to the Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC. Over recent years the WorkCover scheme has had $1.3 billion in government bailouts and is now broken and unviable. Why has the Andrews government failed injured Victorian workers so badly that they now risk having their entitlements cut?

 Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Government Services, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Consumer Affairs) (14:28): Well, I cannot –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I have asked you not to call members by their names but by their correct titles.

Danny PEARSON: We stand behind injured workers and this scheme, which is why we put $1.3 billion into the scheme. That is the simple fact of the matter, and we will continue to provide the support that it needs. We have made essential investments in terms of encouraging workers back to work. We have done an enormous amount of work in relation to that piece around prevention, and we will continue to support workers every step of the way. The reality is that it is not sustainable, and it is not just the government saying this. The Victorian chamber is saying this. Trades Hall is saying this. They all recognise that this is not a sustainable position to find ourselves in. That is why we are doing the work to get the things done to make sure that the scheme can be financially sustainable now and into the future.

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:29): Since 2018 staffing at WorkSafe has increased almost 50 per cent, with 500 additional staff employed within the organisation. Can the minister rule out significant job cuts being made within WorkSafe in order to save this broken scheme?

 Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Government Services, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Consumer Affairs) (14:30): Well, you know, here is the great shop steward, caring about workers. I mean, how many workers did you sack when you were last in power? That is what you have done. You have prevented –

The SPEAKER: Order! I ask the minister to address his answer through the Chair.

Danny PEARSON: We recognise that work needs to be done. We are working with the Victorian chamber, with unions and with relevant stakeholders to make sure that we can get the scheme financially sustainable, make it viable and make sure it is fit for purpose for the 21st century. That is work that is currently underway and will be done. We are committed to that because we support injured workers and we support Victorian workers. We want to make sure they work in a safe environment, and that is why we are making the necessary investments to do the right thing.

John Pesutto interjected.

Danny PEARSON: Well, good. Keep going, mate. I am going nowhere. You might be going somewhere. I am going nowhere.