It’s worth harping on about simply because it is so blatantly corrupt. Channel 7 highlights the major discrepancy between the draft report and the final report. This should be Barry’s undoing. The Committee repeatedly said that they were being rushed and that a much wider range inquiry is necessary – chopped to read as the government wanted it to read.
O’Farrell doctors report to suit government agenda
News report: video
And here Barry is admitting the inquiry was nothing more than a cynical attempt to appear to be fair.
Premier Barry O’Farrell said the government was likely to make a decision next week, after admitting ministers had planned WorkCover changes before the report was released on Wednesday.
“We’ve always said two things – that we’d wait for the final report of the committee to fashion our response, but that in the meantime we would undertake work in the direction in which our public discussion paper has suggested,” he told reporters in Sydney.
We are the authors, co-authors, seriously injured workers and invisible supporters (incl. abled family members and friends) behind A Diary of a WorkCover Victim.
We hope this site, our and many other injured workers’ stories will somehow help other injured workers navigating the murky waters of the workcover system, and, at the very least, teach you to be extremely diligent in finding out your legitimate rights, always questioning the “system” in order to keep some sort of control within the workcover system.
The workers compensation is – in our opinion- extremely adversarial and they use tactics to wear you down, to make you emotionally bleed out, to break you, all in order to weaken your position and to maximise their insane profits.
The fact that the police are exempt of compo slashes is, in my opinion, also an example of how UNFAIR the “inquiry” has been. How can you exempt police but not firies, paramedics, nurses etc?
Police not affected by workers compensation cuts
NSW police will be exempt from radical cuts to workers compensation benefits and maintain their existing entitlements.
Police Minister Mike Gallacher last night said the state government will maintain the current workers’ compensation and death and disability scheme for police officers.
“This commitment includes preserving the entitlement to journey claims and continuing to provide the best possible death and disability scheme,” Minister Gallacher said.
A government-appointed parliamentary committee reviewed the workers compensation scheme and recommended slashing benefits for all workers. It recommended abolishing journey claims, capping medical expenses and cutting weekly benefits.
Mr Gallacher said PricewaterhouseCoopers had calculated the Workers Compensation scheme had a deficit of more than $4 billion, making the scheme’s reform “absolutely necessary”.
However, questions about the validity of the claimed deficit, which were published in a draft version of the committee’s report, were deleted from its final version.
The Herald obtained a copy of the draft report which quoted the Australian Lawyers Alliance saying: “If you wanted to produce a report that had this scheme $10 billion in surplus on its projections versus $10 billion in deficit, the way you go about setting assumptions either way, you can achieve that outcome”.
Greens MP, David Shoebridge, said he welcomed the exemption of any employees from drastic cuts to the workers compensation scheme.
“But there is no reason to privilege police over fire fighters, nurses or construction workers,” he said. “The government having to exempt police proves how harsh their changes will be.”
There are several ways to stop Barry O Feudal’s austerity measures. The best would be to vote him out, but as he has a huge majority and just under three years to go, that is a long shot. Target his vulnerable members, especially those in western Sydney who should be constantly reminded that they are there for only one term. Another really effective way would be for everyone to stop work for one day and also not buy anything (petrol, food, travelling etc) not use electricity, and generally bring the state to a halt – this would require a lot of organisation and of course you would always get the scared group of the population who would not support it. There are legal avenues which are being looked at by the unions and they have stated they are taking this to the Industrial Relations Commission. Consider this – by singling out the Police, the NSW government has effectively denied equality under the law for workers. So hopefully something can be done about this. There is also the law of agency which needs to be looked at, this is where your boss can be held responsible for you during lunchbreaks and that is extended to driving to and from work – not a criminal tort but at least a civil tort. The other thing that can be considered is for all workers to absolutely refuse to do any work which poses a danger to them unless the boss signs off on it with better conditions for work injuries (this can only really be done collectively, i.e. unions). Finally get out there, get people to sign petitions, put your rage on twitter and facebook. Write to your local member and let them know that even though you can’t work, you can devote the rest of your life to getting rid of them out of government.
A couple of months ago Barry O’Farrell accompanied his Roads Minister, Duncan Gay, on a day trip to the mid-north coast to inspect progress on the Pacific Highway.
As they met the local media, it became clear the point was to criticise the federal Infrastructure Minister, Anthony Albanese, over his insistence that NSW pays 50 per cent of the cost of upgrading the highway to dual carriageway.
O’Farrell accused Albanese of reneging on what he claims was an earlier arrangement for NSW to pay just 20 per cent of the cost.
It was a pre-emptive strike. O’Farrell knew the issue was about to surface in the federal budget in a few weeks’ time, when Albanese announced $3.56 billion in federal funding to achieve the upgrade by 2016, but only if it was matched by NSW.
Predictably, this week’s state budget set aside just $1.5 billion, or 20 per cent of the more than $7 billion required in total, reigniting the argument.
The Opposition Leader, John Robertson, leapt on the announcement to declare the funding shortfall meant the government ”isn’t serious about saving lives on the Pacific Highway”.
It was a slightly overblown attack, but one that highlights an emerging vulnerability of the O’Farrell government: the perception that it lacks a heart.
For months Labor has accused the government of targeting ”those most vulnerable” with reforms like the overhaul of WorkCover to dump journey-to-work claims and cap compensation payments for injured workers and cuts to the foster carer allowance.
It is precisely the kind of attack that the Treasurer, Mike Baird, has been trying to head off with his pre-budget briefings linking the need for ”sustainable finances” with the government’s capacity to look after those most in need, including through support for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
But the reality is the government’s actions are failing to match the Treasurer’s rhetoric.
This week’s budget notes the Productivity Commission recommends that the federal government should fund the disability scheme. On Thursday the community services minister, Pru Goward, announced a rent hike for social housing tenants to cover the cost of the carbon tax on maintenance.
Meanwhile the Finance Minister, Greg Pearce, is proving less than enthusiastic about the decision of Fair Work Australia to give big pay rises to low-paid workers in the social, community and disability services industry who work in non-government organisations the government funds.
While Pearce has said he will abide by the tribunal’s decision on the size and structure of the pay increase, he has chosen to neither oppose nor support the proposal of the Australian Services Union, which brought the case.
The government is also questioning the union’s proposal that NSW workers, who are paid higher than those in other states due to their state award, continue on that award beyond its looming abolition date of 2014. If the state award is abolished then, their pay rate will drop and they will receive less benefit from the Fair Work decision.
While the government quibbles about how it will meet these financial commitments, it has no qualms in setting aside $3.3 billion for the north-west rail link over the next four years.
The rail line is the O’Farrell government’s central infrastructure commitment. But the decision to pour close to $1 billion a year into a project benefiting a relatively small group of residents while cutting services to others is questionable to say the least.
It also lends significant weight to Labor’s claims that it is a government more closely focused on political outcomes than caring for some of the most vulnerable people in the state.
The workcover system is a living nightmare and the goulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties usually work for the workcover insurance carriers.
This site is written by seriously injured workers and dedicated to the truth about what you the injured worker, will face in the workover system.
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Real Stories
WorkCover insurance companies have been intentionally ruining peoples lives to protect the almighty dollar. Why?
We let them do it to us without saying a word!
Why is this site so important?
Someday you or a loved one may be face to face with the WorkCover system and their Illegal activities, knowledge is your best defence. This site will help you navigate through the murky waters of the workers compensation system, and whilst my experience with workcover occurred in Victoria (Australia), I sincerely believe that it crosses all states and even borders with respect to the insane challenges and nightmares that a workplace injury can create
Need a decent lawyer?
Contact: Senior Partner John Typaldos: Tel: 0409266097 - VIC
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Is it possible for someone to sue Barry O’Farrell for the absolute fraud that he is?
The fact that the police are exempt of compo slashes is, in my opinion, also an example of how UNFAIR the “inquiry” has been. How can you exempt police but not firies, paramedics, nurses etc?
Police not affected by workers compensation cuts
NSW police will be exempt from radical cuts to workers compensation benefits and maintain their existing entitlements.
Police Minister Mike Gallacher last night said the state government will maintain the current workers’ compensation and death and disability scheme for police officers.
“This commitment includes preserving the entitlement to journey claims and continuing to provide the best possible death and disability scheme,” Minister Gallacher said.
A government-appointed parliamentary committee reviewed the workers compensation scheme and recommended slashing benefits for all workers. It recommended abolishing journey claims, capping medical expenses and cutting weekly benefits.
Mr Gallacher said PricewaterhouseCoopers had calculated the Workers Compensation scheme had a deficit of more than $4 billion, making the scheme’s reform “absolutely necessary”.
However, questions about the validity of the claimed deficit, which were published in a draft version of the committee’s report, were deleted from its final version.
The Herald obtained a copy of the draft report which quoted the Australian Lawyers Alliance saying: “If you wanted to produce a report that had this scheme $10 billion in surplus on its projections versus $10 billion in deficit, the way you go about setting assumptions either way, you can achieve that outcome”.
Greens MP, David Shoebridge, said he welcomed the exemption of any employees from drastic cuts to the workers compensation scheme.
“But there is no reason to privilege police over fire fighters, nurses or construction workers,” he said. “The government having to exempt police proves how harsh their changes will be.”
There are several ways to stop Barry O Feudal’s austerity measures. The best would be to vote him out, but as he has a huge majority and just under three years to go, that is a long shot. Target his vulnerable members, especially those in western Sydney who should be constantly reminded that they are there for only one term. Another really effective way would be for everyone to stop work for one day and also not buy anything (petrol, food, travelling etc) not use electricity, and generally bring the state to a halt – this would require a lot of organisation and of course you would always get the scared group of the population who would not support it. There are legal avenues which are being looked at by the unions and they have stated they are taking this to the Industrial Relations Commission. Consider this – by singling out the Police, the NSW government has effectively denied equality under the law for workers. So hopefully something can be done about this. There is also the law of agency which needs to be looked at, this is where your boss can be held responsible for you during lunchbreaks and that is extended to driving to and from work – not a criminal tort but at least a civil tort. The other thing that can be considered is for all workers to absolutely refuse to do any work which poses a danger to them unless the boss signs off on it with better conditions for work injuries (this can only really be done collectively, i.e. unions). Finally get out there, get people to sign petitions, put your rage on twitter and facebook. Write to your local member and let them know that even though you can’t work, you can devote the rest of your life to getting rid of them out of government.
O’Farrell on road to hurting the vulnerable
A couple of months ago Barry O’Farrell accompanied his Roads Minister, Duncan Gay, on a day trip to the mid-north coast to inspect progress on the Pacific Highway.
As they met the local media, it became clear the point was to criticise the federal Infrastructure Minister, Anthony Albanese, over his insistence that NSW pays 50 per cent of the cost of upgrading the highway to dual carriageway.
O’Farrell accused Albanese of reneging on what he claims was an earlier arrangement for NSW to pay just 20 per cent of the cost.
It was a pre-emptive strike. O’Farrell knew the issue was about to surface in the federal budget in a few weeks’ time, when Albanese announced $3.56 billion in federal funding to achieve the upgrade by 2016, but only if it was matched by NSW.
Predictably, this week’s state budget set aside just $1.5 billion, or 20 per cent of the more than $7 billion required in total, reigniting the argument.
The Opposition Leader, John Robertson, leapt on the announcement to declare the funding shortfall meant the government ”isn’t serious about saving lives on the Pacific Highway”.
It was a slightly overblown attack, but one that highlights an emerging vulnerability of the O’Farrell government: the perception that it lacks a heart.
For months Labor has accused the government of targeting ”those most vulnerable” with reforms like the overhaul of WorkCover to dump journey-to-work claims and cap compensation payments for injured workers and cuts to the foster carer allowance.
It is precisely the kind of attack that the Treasurer, Mike Baird, has been trying to head off with his pre-budget briefings linking the need for ”sustainable finances” with the government’s capacity to look after those most in need, including through support for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
But the reality is the government’s actions are failing to match the Treasurer’s rhetoric.
This week’s budget notes the Productivity Commission recommends that the federal government should fund the disability scheme. On Thursday the community services minister, Pru Goward, announced a rent hike for social housing tenants to cover the cost of the carbon tax on maintenance.
Meanwhile the Finance Minister, Greg Pearce, is proving less than enthusiastic about the decision of Fair Work Australia to give big pay rises to low-paid workers in the social, community and disability services industry who work in non-government organisations the government funds.
While Pearce has said he will abide by the tribunal’s decision on the size and structure of the pay increase, he has chosen to neither oppose nor support the proposal of the Australian Services Union, which brought the case.
The government is also questioning the union’s proposal that NSW workers, who are paid higher than those in other states due to their state award, continue on that award beyond its looming abolition date of 2014. If the state award is abolished then, their pay rate will drop and they will receive less benefit from the Fair Work decision.
While the government quibbles about how it will meet these financial commitments, it has no qualms in setting aside $3.3 billion for the north-west rail link over the next four years.
The rail line is the O’Farrell government’s central infrastructure commitment. But the decision to pour close to $1 billion a year into a project benefiting a relatively small group of residents while cutting services to others is questionable to say the least.
It also lends significant weight to Labor’s claims that it is a government more closely focused on political outcomes than caring for some of the most vulnerable people in the state.