Federal: workers' compensation review under way

Friday 25 January 2008

The federal government has ordered the anticipated review of its workers' compensation scheme Comcare.

Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard has invited written submissions from interested parties.

The Comcare scheme provides workers' compensation and OHS arrangements for Australian government employees and for the staff of certain private corporations which self-insure under the scheme.

The Labor Party flagged the review before it gained office and in government has already placed a moratorium on companies opting out of state-based workplace safety jurisdictions and compensation schemes.

Over the recent period a number of big employers, such as Optus, Linfox and the National Australia Bank, moved over to Comcare on the argument they were in competition with Federal agencies.

There are now 19 licensed self-insurers with a further 15 corporations eligible to apply for a licence to self-insure.

Gillard says the purpose of the review is to ensure that Comcare is a suitable OHS and workers' compensation system for self-insurers and their employees.

NSCA