Tuesday, 1 August 2023

Southern Metropolitan Region

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (14:23): (286) My constituency question is also for the Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, regarding the significant increase in WorkCover premiums that has absolutely hit so many small business owners and smashed their bottom line. My constituent Nicole runs a local business in Cheltenham and contacted me about her shock at the huge increase in her WorkCover premium. Her premium in 2022–23 was $4100 at the rate of 0.9 per cent. For 2023–‍24 it is now $7500 at the rate of 1.7 per cent, a massive 83 per cent increase. Nicole describes this as simply unaffordable, and it prevents her from employing new staff. The impact of this cash grab by the government will hit many hardworking small business owners. An average 42 per cent WorkCover premium increase comes on top of the financial strain of soaring energy bills, higher taxes and other cost-of-living pressures. My question to the minister is: what is the justification for these massive increases in WorkCover premiums on top of all the other costs that small business owners are enduring?