UNIONS CALL FOR WORKCOVER REHAB INQUIRY

30 March 2008

SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles will tell the influential Industrial Relations Society that the real problem with WorkCover is the rehabilitation industry.

Ms Giles has been invited to address IR Society members, including leading lawyers, judges and Industrial Relations Commissioners, at a breakfast symposium on 31 March.  It comes on the eve of a CFMEU rally at Parliament House on Tuesday 1 April, the first in a series of actions leading up to a community rally on 3 May.

Ms Giles will use her speech to outline the union-driven campaign to fix WorkCover without sacrificing fairness for injured workers, and will call for an inquiry into the core of WorkCover's problems, the rehabilitation industry.

"The simple fact is there is no guarantee that the changes proposed in the government's current legislation will make the system better, because it fails to address the core problem."

"Until there is an independent inquiry into the operation of the WorkCover rehabilitation system, I fear we will not see any improvement in return to work rates.  It would therefore follow that we won't see an improvement in the scheme's financial performance either."

"Honest workers face financial hardship for what?  As it stands at present, they'll be paying a hefty price for a government that wants to look like its taking action, is delivering benefits to bug business, but failing to fix the fundamental problems."

"The failure to address rehabilitation practices is inextricably linked to one of the worst aspects of the government's Bill - the intention to completely cut off support to workers with serious injury if they have not recovered within 2 and a half years."

"This is a recipe for rorting.  There is no mechanism in the existing Bill to generate good behaviour.  There is no incentive for employers to assist workers' recovery and return to the workforce.  It does the opposite, instead sending a message to employers that they can tread water while WorkCover pays workers for 2 and a half years in the hope they then disappear."

"We want a system that actively promotes swift, safe return to work.  That requires an overhaul of rehabilitation, and a better system than one that encourages employers to drag things out so they can wash their hands of responsibility after a couple of years."

"That's why we're rallying.  While we're lobbying.  Why we have the backing of the community.  And we won't stop until we achieve genuine fairness", Ms Giles says.