The State Government’s attempt to slash weekly support payments to traumatised workers has been sent packing by the Upper House, prompting fresh union calls to put dignity and compassion at the heart of any further reform efforts.
An attempt to to hike the whole person impairment threshold at which a psychologically injured worker receives weekly income support from 15% to 28 per cent by 2029 was rejected in the early hours of this morning.
“The parliament has reflected the views of the community. It has told the Government to put away its sledgehammer and rediscover compassion and dignity for traumatised and vulnerable workers,” said Mark Morey, Secretary of Unions NSW.
“This is a missed opportunity to reform the NSW workers compensation system to improve it for everyone involved, especially injured workers. Seeking to make it almost impossible for workers who sustain a psychological injury was simply not the right approach and would have done nothing to return those workers back to work.”
Unions also commend the Upper House for rejecting other amendments to water down anti-bullying and harassment provisions which would have greatly restricted access to compensation.
The union movement is calling on the NSW Government to include a new provision in the Bill when it goes to the lower house based on the Greenwich proposal to establish an expert panel, headed by the Chief Psychiatrist, to develop an effective alternative to the current broken system.
Unions NSW and the broader movement commends those members of the NSW Parliament who maintained their principled opposition to any increase in the whole-person-impairment thresholds.
“Prevention of psychological injuries must be front of mind for any further reform efforts. That’s the genuine path to reforming workers compensation.”
Contact: Mark Morey 0425 231 812 Nick Lucchinelli 0422229032