The State Government has moved to abolish age-based limits on workers' compensation entitlements.
Amendments to the Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981, to be introduced today in State Parliament, would significantly improve the status of older workers within the State's workers' compensation scheme.
Commerce Minister Simon O'Brien said all workers would have the same entitlements to compensation regardless of their age. Currently, the scheme discriminates against older workers by limiting the entitlement of injured workers aged 64 or more to only one year of income payments.
As well as addressing the clear inequity of current arrangements, removal of discriminatory provisions will have a positive impact on the State's economy.
"The State has an ageing workforce, low unemployment and a need to maintain a skilled and experienced workforce. We want to encourage older workers to remain at work and the State's workers' compensation scheme should support this," Mr O'Brien said.
The Bill also provides a mechanism to ensure seriously injured workers have a common law remedy where their employer is uninsured.
"This has been a long standing issue in the community, frequently raised by constituents to their Members of Parliament," the Minister said.
"The Bill will also bring significant and much-needed improvement to workers' compensation dispute resolution arrangements by creating a new, easy to access conciliation and arbitration service.
The improvements delivered through this Bill will benefit both workers and employers while maintaining the long term sustainability and fairness of the State's workers' compensation scheme.
