Labor introduces second workers' compensation reform Bill after backlash
Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the state government would introduce the Bill on Tuesday afternoon, the first sitting day of NSW parliament after the winter break.
Mr Mookhey said the Bill was 'very similar in nature' to an earlier version that was sent back for a second inquiry by the upper house just earlier this year.
He said changes reflected 'agreed amendments' with the lower house crossbench, including Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, and changes to some 'other related schemes'.
'The reason why is because the need for reform remains urgent,' Mr Mookhey said of the need to introduce the Bill.
'The workers' compensation system is failing small business, it's failing the not-for-profit sector, and it's failing injured workers.'
The Labor government had hoped to pass its sweeping reforms to workers' compensation before the end of financial year.
Instead, the Bill was sent to an upper house inquiry following significant pushback from the Coalition, Greens, unions, and the legal sector.
The Coalition, who have joined with embattled MLC Mark Latham to propose amendments for the Bill, say the reforms would leave the most vulnerable workers at risk.
Their proposed changes would also impact provisions around sexual harassment, including who can make a claim for compensation.
A public inquiry on Friday heard evidence from a range of industry leaders, including from the legal and psychology sectors, as well as the unions.
The Treasurer said the second Bill was also necessary because the state government did not expect the upper house to conclude the inquiry anytime soon.
'At this point, it's not clear when that (original) Bill will return, and therefore, from our perspective, we do think it's necessary to have to introduce this Bill,' he said.
'Should we get some clarity from the committee about what their intentions are with the first Bill – if they are intending to release it at a time in which parliament can take it up – then of course, the government will consider whether or not we need to repeat the exercise of having a vote again in the Legislative Assembly.'
Mr Mookhey said the lower house would likely have to vote again on the original Bill if amendments were passed in the upper house.
The Treasurer said work was under way to set insurance premiums for the nominal insurer, with the private sector reporting loses from the scheme of $6m per day.
He told the media on Tuesday that 25 disability organisations had warned they faced a 36 per cent rise in premiums over the next three years if reforms weren't implemented.
'That will almost certainly mean that they either have to dramatically scale back their services or close them together,' he said.
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