Lawyers for injured workers welcome Qld Govt support for WorkCover scheme

10/04/2025

The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) welcomes the Deputy Premier and the Crisafulli Government’s strong endorsement of the Queensland’s workers’ compensation scheme and decision to freeze WorkCover premiums.

“Queensland continues to have one of the best workers’ compensation schemes in the country. It is a scheme that consistently has amongst the lowest premiums nationally and it is financially strong and fair for injured workers and employers alike,” said Sarah Grace, Queensland State President, ALA.

The Australian Lawyers Alliance is a not-for-profit member organisation made up of legal professionals, many of whom represent injured workers.

“We were pleased to see the Crisafulli Government’s recent statement which makes clear that they share the widely held view that our scheme is indeed one of the best in the country,” said Ms Grace. “Queenslanders should have pride in a scheme which provides balanced, affordable and effective coverage to workers and employers across the state.”

The ALA also welcome the Deputy Premier’s comments that a strong scheme is vital to protect the interests of workers and employers across Queensland, and endorses the comments of the WorkCover Queensland Board Chair that the scheme is in an excellent financial position.

“One of the reasons that the Queensland scheme continues to operate effectively and efficiently, at one of the lowest average premiums in the country, is because of the willingness of all stakeholders to have open discussions,” said Ms Grace. “Dialogue between insurers, the Regulator, the legal profession and the Queensland Government is the envy of other jurisdictions, as reported to us by ALA members in other states and territories. We look forward to this open dialogue continuing with our new Government.”

The ALA does however note that independent reviews of the scheme in 2018 and 2023 both recommended extending workers’ compensation coverage for gig workers in Queensland. The previous government made some legislative reform, but it falls far short of the independent review recommendations.

The ALA calls for the current government to review the gig work reforms to create fairness for Queensland employers and workers.