Workers compensation
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NSW worker's compensation win after dog attack while working from home
8th Aug 2024Craig Joshua outlines how the Personal Injury Commission determined that an activity seemingly unconnected to a worker’s role was an injury occurring in the course of employment, the worker’s employment was a substantial contributing factor, and they were eligible to claim workers compensation.
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Qld Govt should lead the way on workers comp with equal rights for gig workers
20th May 2024The Queensland Government should lead the way nationally and extend workers’ compensation rights to gig workers, the Australian Lawyers Alliance told a government committee today at the hearing for the inquiry into the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024.
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Calls for Qld Govt to lead the way on workers comp for gig industry
14th May 2024The Queensland Government should lead the way nationally and extend workers’ compensation rights to gig workers to ensure that workers and their families in Queensland are protected, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 (Qld)
14th May 2024 -
Does this mean public servants will be properly compensated for workplace injuries?
11th Apr 2024John Wilson and Kieran Pender examine February’s landmark judgement, Comcare v Friend, revealing how it removes uncertainty where compensation for workplace injuries intersects with the Comcare scheme – and ensures public servants can be properly compensated.
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Gig workers need workers’ comp rights: urgent need for law reform
26th Mar 2024Urgent action is required now from the Queensland Government to respond to the changing nature of the workforce and to extend workers’ compensation rights to gig workers, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Inquiry into the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (WorkCover Scheme Modernisation) Bill 2023
19th Jan 2024 -
Recommendations arising from Stakeholder Reference Group meetings 1, 2 and 3
28th Nov 2023 -
WorkCover cuts strip too many rights from injured workers
2nd Nov 2023Proposed revisions to the workers’ compensation scheme in Victoria will strip too many rights from injured workers, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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2023 Review of the Workers Compensation Scheme
18th Sep 2023 -
Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Bill 2023
30th Jun 2023 -
Proposed new WA workers comp laws will severely impact the rights of injured workers
30th Jun 2023Lawyers representing injured workers say that the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Bill 2023 (WA) currently before Parliament is flawed, ambiguous and will reduce the rights of injured workers in Western Australia.
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New WorkCover restrictions 'troubling'
19th May 2023The sustainability of Victoria’s WorkCover scheme is critical but new restrictions on worker eligibility announced today are concerning, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Most common breaches of WCRA
23rd Mar 2023‘Much has been written about the ‘dodgy’ workers who have been caught with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar, but rarely do we hear about the misdeeds of the unscrupulous employers who are prepared to go to any length to protect profitability at the expense of employee welfare ... here are just a few of the tricks commonly used by unscrupulous corporations and employers,’ writes Travis Schultz, Managing Partner, Travis Schultz & Partners
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Govt urged to remember the human impact of changes to Return to Work SA scheme
23rd Nov 2022Ad-hoc revisions to the Return to Work SA scheme, along with flawed processes and inconsistencies in delivery, are having long-term and negative impacts on people injured at work, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance.
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Combative approach to workers compensation psychological injury claims is causing harm
10th Oct 2022The current combative approach taken to managing claims made for psychological injury under the NSW workers compensation scheme must be fixed, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Injured workers need every chance to be assessed before workers comp rules change
8th Jul 2022New workers’ compensation laws in South Australia provide some certainty for workers but there will be seriously injured people who miss out on the support they need.
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‘My husband committed suicide due to a work-related injury; his employer should pay out the death benefit.’ Which case won?
30th Jun 2022‘A worker’s death by suicide does not necessarily prevent recovery of death benefits under the Workers Compensation Act,’ writes Di Branch. ‘Ultimately it depends on the facts of each case.’ In this particular case, the employer’s insurer denied liability and the widow lodged a dispute with the NSW Personal Injury Commission. So, which case won?
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New workers comp bill flawed and ambiguous – must not be rushed through Parliament
28th Jun 2022Lawyers representing injured workers say the Return to Work (Scheme Sustainability) Bill 2022 is flawed and ambiguous, and will create further uncertainty for injured workers.
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Withdrawal of workers comp bill welcome but lawyers call for careful consideration of new amendments
14th Jun 2022Lawyers representing injured workers have welcomed the withdrawal of the amendments previously proposed to the SA Return to Work Act, but are calling for careful review of the new Return to Work (Scheme Sustainability) Bill 2022.
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Calls for Government to disclose actuarial reports relied upon to make workers comp changes
10th Jun 2022Proposed changes to the SA Return to Work Act mean that many workers who suffer more than one injury face an uncertain future and are likely to be considerably worse off, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Stealthy approach to stripping rights from injured workers is deplorable
2nd Jun 2022A proposal to make a fundamental change to the SA Return to Work Act, which will affect thousands of workers and their entitlements, is being snuck into Parliament today without consultation, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Qld Government plans to strip rights from dying workers
12th May 2022Changes proposed to Queensland’s workers’ compensation laws dramatically and unnecessarily affect the rights of dying people, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Failure to meet duty of care costs employer $120,000 for employee’s rolled ankle
7th Apr 2022If an employer has been alerted to a possible safety concern in the workplace, they must take it seriously, writes Emily Wittig, in light of Michel v Broadlex Services Pty Ltd [2020] ACTMC 2. According to the magistrate, the employer ‘knew or ought to have known that the circumstances giving rise to the risk of injury to the plaintiff were recurring’.
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Work safety poster leads to $200,000 damages award
21st Oct 2021Emily Wittig from Stacks Collins Thompson examines a recent case where a female employee was awarded $200,000 in damages by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The Court agreed that a work safety poster featuring the words ‘Feel Great – Lubricate!’ over a photo of the employee resulted in the employee feeling ‘exposed, humiliated and ashamed’ and led to her resignation.
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SA workers’ compensation revisions remain concerning
25th Aug 2021Revisions to the South Australian workers’ compensation Impairment Assessment Guidelines gazetted yesterday are an improvement on the changes originally proposed, but lawyers remain concerned that some changes were made despite strong objections.
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Proposed changes to workers comp laws will lead to more disputes and legal action
21st Jul 2021Proposed changes to the state’s workers’ compensation laws will disadvantage injured workers and mean workers are more likely to have to fight through the tribunal and courts to receive compensation, say lawyers.
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Badly injured SA workers to be hit hard by proposed changes to workers comp laws
22nd Jun 2021Injured workers in South Australia will be badly affected by proposed changes to the workers’ compensation laws which are being made without proper scrutiny, say lawyers.
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Horseplay in the workplace leads to damages
6th May 2021Emily Wittig from Stacks Collins Thompson discusses a case where a ‘bit of fun’ at work goes too far and leads to serious injury. She highlights the duty of care owed by employers to provide competent supervisors and a safe workplace, and the significant dangers of injury and death when this duty is breached.
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Continuing grim reality of work-related fatalities
14th Jan 2021A total of 3,751 workers were killed in work-related incidents between 2003 and 2018. The number of non-fatal work-related injuries in Australia is also extreme.
Justin Stack observes that changes in legislation have made it more difficult for injured workers to obtain adequate compensation and he discusses avenues through which NSW workers can challenge an insurer’s decision or dispute the amount of compensation they have been awarded.
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Provisional payments Bill will benefit workers experiencing mental illness
27th Nov 2020Victorian workers who experience a work-related mental illness will benefit from having much quicker access to treatment and payments due to new legislation which allows for provisional payments to be made, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Employers held responsible for domestic violence when staff WFH
8th Oct 2020In Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer v Hill [2020] NSWCA 54, it was found that employers can be held responsible for domestic violence when employees work from home.
Emily Wittig from Stacks Collins Thompson discusses how this case demonstrates that employers must ensure that there are no safety risks involved with WFH, including the threat of domestic violence. This requires the implementation of informed and proactive policies that will protect workers, particularly relevant in current times with more employees WFH due to COVID-19.
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Call for NSW workers’ compensation scheme to be scrapped
13th Aug 2020In light of concerns raised in the recent media investigation of the NSW workers' compensation scheme, Jeremy Roche compares NSW’s scheme with that of Queensland. He claims that NSW should copy the Queensland workers’ compensation scheme as it is more profitable, fair, efficient and sustainable and injured claimants, along with insurers and employers, are far better off.
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Fair compensation for work injuries ‘almost impossible’ if NSW scheme issues not resolved
3rd Aug 2020Issues within the operation of the NSW Workers’ Compensation Scheme must be resolved otherwise it will become almost impossible for injured workers to receive fair compensation, according to the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Reform needed to fix failings of workers’ comp schemes
28th Jul 2020Serious issues in the workers’ compensation schemes in NSW and Victoria, revealed yesterday by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and ABC TV's Four Corners, highlight an urgent need for reform and require further investigation, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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New workplace manslaughter laws in Victoria
2nd Jul 2020Sam Vasaiwalla explains the new Workplace Safety Legislation Amendment (Workplace Manslaughter and Other Matters) Act 2019 (Vic), effective from 1 July 2020. This new law makes workplace manslaughter a criminal offence in Victoria, with penalties of up to $16.5 million and 20 years’ jail.
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VIC emergency plans for prisoners are inhumane Bill needs careful scrutiny: ALA
22nd Apr 2020Careful scrutiny of the Victorian COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Bill 2020 is needed as the scope is broad and the powers are significant, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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What solicitors should tell their personal injury clients about surveillance
19th Mar 2020Tom Goudkamp OAM explains what legal advisors should tell their personal injury clients about insurer surveillance. If clients are truthful with doctors, medico-legal experts and their lawyers, surveillance will not harm them, and may even help their cases. Tom explains that the opportunity for insurers to ambush clients in court is now limited.
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Queensland reforms affecting workers’ comp claims for psychological injuries
5th Mar 2020Jessica Hodge explains the changes affecting workers' compensation claims for psychological injury in Queensland which commenced late last year. She argues that while the removal of ‘major’ from the required standard for a psychological injury represents a positive step for employees, particularly those with pre-existing psychological conditions, it is unlikely to result in a significant increase in the claim acceptance rate.
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Workers comp financial problems must not be off-loaded onto injured workers: ALA
23rd Feb 2020Injured workers should not be asked to bear the costs of medical treatment in an attempt to resolve financial issues within NSW’s workers compensation scheme, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Asbestos and other latent onset disease litigation: Tips and traps
13th Feb 2020As Martin Rogalski explains, given the complexities that lawyers invariably confront in cases involving asbestos disease and other latent onset diseases, some fundamental matters require consideration in every case.
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Disputed statutory benefit matters – questions to ask your client
16th Jan 2020Although all disputed statutory benefit matters are different, as Margarita Fudim explains, there are some questions you should be asking your client in every case.
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Are there dual entitlements to annual leave and weekly workers compensation payments?
3rd Oct 2019Ashleigh Kemp reminds practitioners about the need to carefully review the annual leave entitlements of clients on weekly workers' compensation payments following the Full Federal Court decision in Anglican Care v NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association [2015] FCAFC 81. She also provides some practical tips about calculating these, and considers other ways in which the dual entitlement can affect clients.
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How social media affects compensation claims
5th Sep 2019Stephen Firth provides some valuable insights into the 'dos and don'ts' of social media use by clients in compensation cases.
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The high cost of preventable farm accidents
4th Jul 2019Justin Stack details some recent cases involving preventable farm accidents and emphasises the importance of farm owners and workers understanding their workplace safety rights and obligations.
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Gig economy decision – Fair Work Commission finds delivery riders are employees
24th Jan 2019Sam Vasaiwalla explores the implications of the Fair Work Commission's decision in Joshua Klooger v Foodora Australia Pty Ltd [2018] FWC 6836.
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Work deaths in Australia top 92 for 2018
13th Sep 2018An exploration of the worker fatality and serious workplace injury rates for 2018 so far.
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Workers’ compensation system improves with access to free legal help
12th Jul 2018Justin Stack explores the proposed changes to the NSW workers' compensation scheme, changes that will improve access to legal representation for injured workers.
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Risk of death is more than a ‘blemish’
28th Jun 2018Queensland's workers’ compensation legislation supports workers who have been injured at work to get back on their feet, regardless of the cause of their injury. The exception to this is in relation to psychiatric injuries, in which case support can be denied in the event that an injury is caused by ‘reasonable management action’. Michelle Wright explores a recent case in which Industrial Commissioner Black has acted to limit the 'reasonable management action' exception.
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A plaintiff need not be perfect
22nd Mar 2018The workers’ compensation system is a minefield for plaintiffs. Having to state and re-state your injuries, being interrogated about your pain, and having to convince people about and justify your restrictions, leaves the ground fertile for credibility issues.
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Calculating weekly payments of compensation
2nd Nov 2017Janet Tucci discusses the challenges of calculating compensation figures by analysing Stebbing v State of Victoria (Department of Education and Training).
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Privatising workers comp puts SA workers’ rights up for sale
23rd Feb 2017Handing control of the South Australian workers compensation scheme to private insurers would prioritise insurer profits ahead of injured workers’ rights, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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The first interview with injured clients
19th Jan 2017I’ve interviewed thousands of injured clients, some with minor injuries, and others with the worst injuries imaginable. Every interview is different.
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Traumatising Incident (Workplace) – Employer’s Response Inadequate
5th Oct 2016Sarah Dreger discusses the case of Greenway v The Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane [2016] QDC 195. In this case the District Court has awarded more than $450,000.00 to a young woman who developed post-traumatic stress disorder during the course of her employment as a residential carer for wayward youths. This was due to her employer's inadequate response to a traumatising incident that occurred.
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Police PTSD claims show insurers cannot be trusted - lawyers
2nd Aug 2016The experience of police officers claiming compensation for PTSD shows insurance companies need to be held to account, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Farnham v Pruden & Anor [2016] QCA 18
8th Apr 2016Shane Lawlor provides a case note that looks at the Civil Liability Act 2003 (Qld) (CLA) and the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 [(Qld) (WCRA)].
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Solicitor Kerry Splatt named ALA QLD 2016 CJA Winner
12th Feb 2016A solicitor who has been a passionate advocate for injured workers and defender of common law rights for decades has been declared the winner of the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) Queensland Civil Justice Award.
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Vic ombudsman to investigate workers comp claims
26th Nov 2015Bring on the Victorian Ombudsman’s investigation into workers compensation claims, writes Liberty Sanger, Principal at Maurice Blackburn.
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Timeframe for applying for Workers' Comp: A Change in Interpretation
25th Sep 2015Kaine Shanahan examines the timeframe for applying for statutory workers' compensation in light of recent case law in Qld.
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NSW workers comp amendments retrospectively betray injured workers
17th Sep 2015Injured workers in New South Wales have retrospectively been stripped of their right to claim lump-sum compensation despite assurances from the government that changes to the Workers Compensation Act would have no such outcome, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Workers comp reforms a win for Qld's injured workers, scheme stability
17th Sep 2015The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has today welcomed the passing of significant workers’ compensation scheme reforms that will see key rights restored for thousands of injured workers across Queensland.
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Workers comp changes a step in the right direction, but more to do
31st Aug 2015The NSW Government is to be commended for partially restoring workers compensation benefits which were heavily cut in 2012, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Employers, unions and ALA fight unfair workers’ compensation Bill
30th Jun 2015The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ), the Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) and the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) have joined forces in fighting proposed amendments to the Federal workers’ compensation scheme, stating the changes are a ‘retrograde step for Queensland’ that will result in higher and volatile premiums for small business and fewer benefits for the State’s 2.1 million workers.
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Lack of unanimity in Senate report highlights Comcare’s faults
19th Jun 2015Injured Australian workers could see their rights and workplace safety severely cut under government plans to slash the federal workers compensation scheme, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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ICA workers comp report looks after insurers, hurts injured workers
15th Jun 2015State and Territory Governments should reject outright a self-interested report that seeks to hand operational control of workers’ compensation schemes to private insurers and cut the right to compensation of injured workers in every jurisdiction, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Court decision shows Comcare’s failure to regulate workplace safety
21st May 2015A recent court decision on workplace safety against a major Comcare licensee is evidence that the federal scheme is failing its core responsibility of regulating workplace safety, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Comcare OK for workers but not good enough for politicians
13th May 2015The Federal Government has admitted the Comcare scheme is not up to scratch by quietly funding its own parliamentary injury compensation scheme in last night’s Budget, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Senator Abetz’s attacks on injured workers do nothing to fix Comcare
15th Apr 2015Comments from Federal Public Service Minister Eric Abetz that seek to minimise the impacts of proposed changes to the nation’s Comcare scheme are not only dishonest, they also serve as a further hit on injured workers, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Workers compensation scheme key to protecting our ageing workforce
7th Apr 2015The expectation that Australians will work past the age of 65 needs to be framed in a long-term vision that finds a sustainable balance between workers compensation, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Centrelink, or risk breaking the system, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Urgent need for review of NSW workers compensation scheme
6th Mar 2015A report which revealed thousands of injured employees who lost workers compensation benefits following changes to the scheme has highlighted the need for an urgent review of these amendments, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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ACT’s new compensation scheme can heal Comcare’s damage
27th Feb 2015Arbitrary time limits and cuts to injury and rehabilitation entitlements have no place in a genuine workers compensation scheme which protects workers’ rights, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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ACT govt pulling out of Comcare is a step in the right direction
26th Feb 2015The ACT government is to be commended for pulling its support from the fundamentally flawed Comcare workplace insurance scheme, demonstrating strong leadership and supporting workers’ rights, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Injured workers must be a priority for Qld election
16th Jan 2015The forthcoming Queensland State election presents a real opportunity for all sides of politics to restore rights for Queenslanders injured in unsafe workplaces, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Comcare changes threaten workers’ rights and workplace safety
28th Nov 2014State and territory-based workers’ compensation schemes are in danger of being abandoned by employers if changes to the Comcare scheme are approved, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Parliamentary Committee says heal damaged workers compensation scheme
18th Sep 2014Recommendations by a bipartisan NSW Parliamentary Committee to restore medical benefits to workers have been welcomed by the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Senate should reject proposed changes to Comcare scheme
24th Jul 2014The Senate’s Education and Employment Standing Committee recently released its report dealing with proposed legislative changes to the Comcare workers compensation scheme. The Senate should reject the proposed changes, writes Geoff Wilson.
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The bitter taste of WorkCover SA
17th Jul 2014Renowned nationally for its battered financial status, inadequate benefits to workers and long delays, it’s time to consider a new scheme for injured workers in South Australia, writes Patrick Boylen, SA President of the Australian Lawyers Alliance.
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Comcare changes to gut state workers’ compensation schemes
9th Jul 2014State and territory-based workers’ compensation schemes risk being gutted as a result of changes to the Comcare scheme which have been examined by a Senate committee report, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Media coverage, July 2014
1st Jul 2014Just some of the media coverage generated by the Australian Lawyers Alliance or its members during the month of July 2014.
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South Australian conference highlights workers comp
20th Jun 2014The ALA's South Australian conference will take place at the Intercontinental Hotel, Adelaide on Friday. Featuring Deputy Premier John Rau as keynote, Mr Rau will address the failings of South Australia's workers compensation scheme. The ALA continues to call for a fundamental overhaul of the scheme.
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Injured workers still burnt by compo changes in NSW
12th Jun 2014The stark reality is that the 2012 amendments to the NSW Workers' Compensation Scheme have slashed injured workers' entitlements and their ability to make an early, safe and durable return to work, writes Anthony Scarcella, NSW Director of the Australian Lawyers Alliance.
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Opening Comcare gates will trade off workers' rights
11th Jun 2014The Federal government is planning to trade off the rights of Australian workers via opening the gates to its Comcare scheme, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today
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ALA submits on NSW workers compensation changes
3rd Jun 2014This week, the Australian Lawyers Alliance NSW Committee provided our submission to the Centre for International Economics in its statutory review of the 2012 NSW workers compensation legislative amendments on behalf of the Office of Finance and Services.
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Drop in premiums shows Qld govt's WorkCover changes were unnecessary
20th May 2014Today’s announcement of a drop in WorkCover premiums for employers proves the Newman Government’s changes to the workers’ compensation scheme, rammed through Parliament last year, were unnecessary, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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A Q&A on QLD workers compensation changes
8th May 2014ALA QLD President Michelle James answers questions about Queensland's workers compensation scheme, which removed workers' rights following amendments passed into law this year.
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Ageing workforce at risk of injury
6th May 2014Any discussion about working life ought to include workplace injury and its consequences, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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What 'cutting red tape' will do to injured workers nationwide
19th Mar 2014The Federal government’s proposal to allow employers to shift workers into the Comcare system will take away vital support for injured workers and dilute health and safety protections nationwide, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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NSW Workers Compensation Scheme slashing injured workers rights - ALA
31st Oct 2013Injured workers rights are being slashed by Premier Barry O’Farrell, which is the only reason he and the Finance Minister were able to announce a NSW Compensation Scheme surplus, yesterday, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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New poll shows Qld Premier's seat at risk if WorkCover laws pass
17th Oct 2013A new poll shows the Premier’s own seat is at risk if the Queensland Government passes laws today to reduce injured employees’ rights for workplace injuries.
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ALA to discuss Qld premier at risk of losing his seat
17th Oct 2013Australian Lawyers Alliance spokesman Rod Hodgson will be speaking on new polling that shows the Premier is at risk of losing the seat of Ashgrove as a result of the State Government’s proposed changes to Queensland’s WorkCover scheme today (Thursday) morning at Parliament House.
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WorkCover changes hurt all Queenslanders
15th Oct 2013Today's changes to Queensland's WorkCover scheme announced by the Attorney-General will hurt employers, employees and taxpayers and have been announced without any basis in fact.
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Queensland still has nation's best WorkCover scheme
14th Oct 2013The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has welcomed the release of WorkCover Queensland’s latest Annual Report, which confirms the scheme remains the best in the country and is both financially stable and fair for employers, employees and taxpayers.
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Queenslanders reject Government's changes to workers compensation
13th Oct 2013As State Cabinet prepares to consider drastic changes to Queensland's workers compensation scheme, a new poll has shown that Queenslanders overwhelmingly support the State's current system.
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Queensland workers compensation poll
13th Oct 2013Click here to view the workers compensation poll results following a survey of 1,258 Queensland residents on 10 October 2013.
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Planned SA WorkCover overhaul benefits injured
28th Jun 2013“Industrial Relations Minister John Rau’s announcement today to pay out long-term SA WorkCover injury victims is likely to facilitate better health outcomes for such workers and is a long overdue development,” Australian Lawyers Alliance SA President, Patrick Boylen, said.
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NSW govt errors show more financial capability to help injured workers
8th Nov 2012A manufactured deficit of $1billion on NSW Government’s books, which arose because of 37 accounting errors of more than $20 million each, looks like having indirectly played a role in winding back the financial entitlements of injured workers, Australian Lawyers Alliance NSW Committee member, Cliff Baker, writes.
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NSW Workers Comp decision shows new laws are retrospective
24th Oct 2012Contrary to NSW Government assertions that recently introduced austere workers compensation laws would not be retrospective, a matter decided in the NSW Workers Compensation Commission yesterday, shows that, in fact, they will.
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A second rate legal review service adds insult to injury - ALA
26th Sep 2012Injured workers should remain unexcited by the NSW Government’s announcement today of a new 'free legal review service' for some work injury disputes.
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Inconsistency in NSW is draining disability rights - ALA
30th Aug 2012After much negotiation, NSW has announced it will provide an extra $35 million to support the rollout of a National Disability Insurance Scheme in the Hunter region to help 10,000 people with significant disability.
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ALA tells inquiry Newstart puts injured workers in hardship
27th Aug 2012Concerns about Newstart Allowance payment inadequacy and the transition from alternative payments such of WorkCover has prompted the Australian Lawyers Alliance to submit to and appear before an Inquiry on the subject today.
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NSW WorkCover changes - Expect mental health crisis says ALA
4th Jul 2012“Traumatised families struggling to cope with horrific deaths of loved ones are being forced into financial hardship following the O’Farrell Government’s cuts to WorkCover compensation last month,” the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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O'Farrell Government adds insult to injury with WorkCover changes
21st Jun 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance has expressed its disbelief that the O’Farrell Government has pushed new severe workers compensation measures through the NSW Legislative Council yesterday, just five days after it tabled its report.
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WorkCover advertises its own mismanagement
28th May 2012WorkCover has released a list of what it describes as some of the worst cases of excessive claims that have ever been referred to it.
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Victorian WorkCover funds continue to be plundered - ALA
4th May 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance is concerned that a three percent reduction in Victorian Workers Compensation premiums, while enticing superficially, hides a very black cloud that is floating over the rights of seriously injured workers.
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Lawyers meet minister to discuss proposed WorkCover changes
28th Mar 2012Representatives of the legal profession including, The Australian Lawyers Alliance, The NSW Bar Association and The NSW Law Society, met with Finance Minister, Greg Pearce, today, to discuss proposed changes to Workers Compensation and Motor Accident compensation schemes.
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Removal of Victorian WorkCover funds threatens injured workers - ALA
10th Feb 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance is concerned that a Victorian government plan to redirect $471.5 million in WorkCover funds away from injured worker compensation and occupational health and safety will result in more injured workers in Victoria being left without adequate care and support.