NSW Employer Reforms
The Minister of Finance, Dominic Perrottet, & the NSW Government have been driving reform to make it easier and cheaper to do business in NSW. Reforms have been diverse with workers compensation a beneficiary. As previously covered, workers compensation reforms are designed to reward the good and penalise the poor performers. Despite suggestions most businesses would pay lower premiums, the insurers have advised us that approximately 75% of medium to large NSW business will see increased 2015/16 Renewal premiums.
October is Australia’s Work Safety Month and the theme of “Be Safe. Be Healthy. Because…” is something we here at ABILITY GROUP are passionate about. What is also important about workplace safety is the consequences injuries have to workers. Depending on the seriousness of the injury, or in the tragic situations of a workplace fatality, government bodies can issue businesses material fines to complement the other effects.
The majority of medium to large NSW businesses are yet to receive their 
Actively promoting workplace safety is an important ABILITY GROUP function. At times we unfortunately need to manage tragic consequences of workplace accidents. Businesses that adopt a safety first approach are making an important step towards avoiding accidents and injuries. A court recently found a leading Australian paper manufacturer liable for the death of an employee fining them $400,000. 
After identifying a client’s claim had deteriorated, we explained that the lost wages under the new workers compensation formula would result in material increases in their next 3 premiums. After subsequently being engaged to manage the claim, our Senior Injury Management Specialist identified key strategies, including engaging specialist rehabilitation support which returned the injured worker 4 weeks ahead of schedule.
On 1 September 2015, the regulatory and insurance functions of WorkCover NSW are assumed by 3 new discrete organisations. State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) for workers compensation regulation, SafeWork NSW for work health and safety regulation and Insurance and Care NSW (icare) for workers compensation insurance. Following the 30 June 2015 scheme changes, these new changes are aligned with making the NSW Workers Compensation scheme more commercially focused and aligned with needs.