30/05/2025

Queensland’s workers’ compensation scheme remains one of the strongest, most stable and best-performing in the country – providing fair outcomes for injured workers and employers alike without the need for legislative change.

“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, Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).

Recent legislative proposals in New South Wales, which seek to wind back rights for injured workers, are not needed in Queensland.

The Queensland scheme continues to deliver on its core objectives: supporting injured workers to recover and return to work while maintaining financial sustainability.

Queensland’s scheme is:

• Financially sound: WorkCover Queensland remains fully funded and profitable, with strong investment performance and premium stability.

• Efficient and cost-effective: Queensland consistently has some of the lowest average premiums in the country, which benefits employers while ensuring appropriate compensation and support for workers.

• Fair and balanced: The scheme offers a just balance between the rights of injured workers and the responsibilities of employers. Queensland’s no-fault statutory scheme provides timely and accessible support to workers, while its common law component allows those with ongoing losses and incidences where negligence has occurred to seek appropriate redress.

Queensland president of the Australian Lawyers Alliance, Sarah Grace, said there is absolutely no reason Queensland should follow the path being considered in New South Wales.

“The proposed NSW changes are a knee-jerk response to financial pressures that should be managed through governance and efficiency, not by undermining the rights of injured workers,” said Ms Grace.

“Queensland has shown that it is possible to have a fair and sustainable system without attacking the entitlements of people who are injured at work. Our system works, and there is no justification for importing NSW’s problems here.

“We were pleased to see the Crisafulli Government’s statement in April which made it clear that they share the widely held view that our scheme is indeed one of the best in the country when they made the decision to freeze WorkCover premiums.

“Any move to wind back rights in Queensland would threaten the effective and respected balance the scheme has maintained for decades – one that reflects Queenslanders’ strong sense of fairness and commitment to supporting people when they need it most.

“The strength of Queensland’s system lies in its careful balance, good governance and its focus on rehabilitation and return to work. It is not broken – and it doesn’t need fixing. “Queenslanders should have pride in a scheme which provides balanced, affordable and effective coverage to workers and employers across the state,” said Ms Grace.

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