In recent years, the reforms surrounding NSW Workers Compensation have received criticisms of poor practices from employers. The 2015 changes divided the workers compensation system into the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), Insurance and Care NSW (iCare) and SafeWork NSW in an effort to produce a more effective and dedicated response to claims.
The NSW Business chamber highlights inefficiencies in the
system which are inflating insurance expenses and negatively impacting both
employers and employees. These proposed inefficiencies include poor claims
management practices, causing delays to medical and rehabilitation services to
workers – which ultimately cause a rise in premium costs. Moreover,
inappropriate approval of claims, poor advice and low levels of support for
employers and employees have also been blamed.
However, despite the complaints and calls for an urgent
review of the system, a spokesman for NSW Treasurer Mr Perrottet mentioned it
has brought about massive improvements. Since 2015, they have boasted reduced
business premiums, increased worker support and elimination of the scheme debt,
which compared to the old scheme, is a huge improvement. The predicted $4.1
billion deficit, premium increases of 28% and failure to help injured workers
have supposedly been rectified by these reforms.
The business chamber have scheduled meetings with a number of workers’ compensation stakeholders to address these criticisms.
Independent
research shows Mental Illness is the fastest growing workplace injury and is
costing hundreds of billions per year.
The
Australian Council of Trade Unions has welcomed some recommendations from the
Productivity Commission, including no-liability treatment for mental health
injuries and claims.
Psychological
health and safety should be treated with the same importance as physical health
and safety and WHS in the workplace.
ACTU conducted
a survey this year and I was found that over 60% of respondents had experienced
mental illness due to their employer failing to manage psycho-social hazards in
the workplace. It was also found in this survey that nearly half of
participants felt their employers were not prepared to support workers
experiencing mental illness in the workplace.
For all NSW workers compensation policy holders with a 30 June 2018 Renewal date, the deadline to submit Declaration of Actual Wages was 31 October 2018. If you have missed this date, your submission is now overdue. icare has advised that the policy adjustment process will soon commence for those submitted before this date.
Recent Data Analytics carried out by the State Authority Regulatory Authority (SIRA), have identified hundreds of employers who have failed to lodge the policy for mandatory workers compensation insurance. (more…)
On May 23 2018, the NSW Government passed a new bill outlining amendments to the workers compensation insurance conditions covering Changes to the Coal Industry Act and Coal Industry employees. (more…)
