Tuesday, 31 October 2023

 Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (12:05): I move:

That I introduce a bill for an act to amend the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, the Accident Compensation Act 1985 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and for other purposes.

Motion agreed to.

 Cindy McLEISH (Eildon) (12:05): I request a brief explanation of the bill from the minister, please.

 Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (12:05): The purpose of the bill is to modernise the WorkCover scheme to ensure it is financially sustainable and can continue to support injured workers into the future. The bill will:

(a)   introduce initial eligibility requirements for mental injury, including:

(i) only significant mental injuries diagnosed by a medical practitioner that predominantly arise out of or in the course of employment will be compensable; and

(ii) mental injuries that are predominantly caused by work-related stress or burnout will not be compensable, unless the duties are routinely traumatic;

(b)   clarify that disputes relating to initial eligibility decisions cannot be referred to arbitration, to create consistency in decision-making;

(c)   introduce a permanent Whole Person Impairment threshold of more than 20 per cent, alongside the existing work capacity test, for workers to remain entitled to weekly benefits beyond the 130 weeks; and

(d)   require the Minister to initiate an independent review of the amendments to the Scheme arising out of this Bill, by an expert panel, in 2027.

Read first time.

Ordered to be read second time tomorrow.