Inquiry into the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (WorkCover Scheme Modernisation) Bill 2023
4 January 2024
The Parliament of Victoria’s Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee (Committee) has conducted an inquiry into the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (WorkCover Scheme Modernisation) Bill 2023 (Bill).
ALA National President Shaun Marcus and then-ALA Victoria Branch Committee President Lachlan Fitch represented the ALA at the Committee’s public hearing on 13 December 2023. The ALA also provided the Committee with a written submission regarding the Bill on 4 January 2024.
The ALA supports a financially-sound workers’ compensation system for Victoria, one that adequately provides for those injured at work.
The ALA maintains the revisions to Victoria’s workers’ compensation scheme strips too many rights from injured workers, especially in relation to:
- the introduction of an additional whole person impairment threshold of greater than 20 per cent on injured workers post-the second entitlement period (130 weeks); and
- the new eligibility criteria in this Bill for mental injuries, whereby this Bill introduces novel terms about defining a mental injury which will create significant uncertainty for years to come.
The final report from the independent review of the modernisation of the WorkCover Scheme was finalised on 27 March 2025.
In May 2025, the Victorian Government tabled its response to the final report from the Committee's inquiry into the Bill, supporting the establishment of a Return to Work Advisory Subcommittee (RTWAC).
As set out in legislation, the RWTAC:
- will provide advice to the WorkSafe Board on ways to promote the occupational rehabilitation and early return to work of injured workers; and
- the establishment, administration and operation of occupational rehabilitation services, vocational re-education facilities and return to work programs available to injured workers.
ALA Victoria Branch Committee President Susan Accary has been appointed a member of the RTWAC.
ALA submission
Report (February 2024)
Hearing testimony from Shaun Marcus and Lachlan Fitch (13 December 2024).
Final report (March 2025)
Victorian Government's response to the final report from the Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee's inquiry into the Bill.