Workers need a compensation system that works for them, not the bosses
Media reports in The Sydney Morning Herald today have highlighted systemic failings of Icare management to properly provide workers’ compensation to our state’s sick and injured. The PSA understands tonight’s 4 Corners will also go into issues at the provider in more detail.
Your union is hugely concerned by these reports, and wants to reassure members that it consistently fights for your access to a fair and independent workers’ compensation scheme. Many members are on the frontline, delivering services to our society’s most needy and volatile – they need to have a system that will care for them if and when they need help.
PSA members at Icare work tirelessly to support injured workers, and victims of motor vehicle accidents. It is clear from these media reports that the system needs to be changed at the top.
We also want to reassure members that while there are clearly systemic problems at Icare, we will always support you in navigating the overly complex system, and are campaigning for significant overhaul of how it is delivered.
The government’s workers’ compensation model is now more broken as it does not have fairness incorporated into the system, deferring decisions to a list of rent seekers which rely upon the workers’ compensation system for fees. These are not independent.
The scheme hinders, rather than assists, people returning to work. It has been identified that there are policies that saw millions of dollars in underpayment to workers and a proposal to arbitrarily remove people from support.
The PSA CPSU NSW has referred some of these matters to ICAC on behalf of members.
Your union calls upon the government to return workers’ compensation to its beginnings, as a supportive framework including:
- Reinstating tripartite management of workers’ compensation at Icare in the Nominal Scheme and the Treasury Managed Fund between the government, employers and unions.
- Bringing workers’ compensation claims management back in house, where the actions of claims management are accountable through the transparency of government including Freedom of Information, Ombudsman and ICAC, where government Ministers are accountable for any systemic issues.
- Rebuilding income support so that workers are not penalised financially from day one of their injury.
- Rebuilding medical and rehabilitation support so that workers do not need to fight with the insurer or employer to get the basic help needed to enable them to return to work
- Properly enforcing the employers’ responsibility to return injured workers’ to work
- Extending the employment protections for injured workers to two years.
- To implement a proactive supportive early intervention system to support complex cases return to work in a supportive framework.
- Prohibiting the asking of job applicants whether they have had a workers’ compensation claim.