Future of Safety, Return to Work & Support
Future of Safety, Return to Work and Support August 2015 (PDF version)
Hello members,
Earlier today I was rung by Vivek Bhatia, the CEO of SRWS Division.
The call followed up an email he sent to me this morning after the report in The Sydney Morning Herald regarding Minister Perrottet announcement about the future of Safety Return to Work & Support (SRWS) and SICorp.
WorkCover is going to be split into 3 organisations
The Upper House Inquiry called for a separation of the regulatory and insurance operations.
The PSA is seeking more detailed information on the changes but Vivek Bhatia gave me several key assurances in the first instance.
He guaranteed that:
- there would be no job losses
- Gosford and regional offices will not be relocated
- two of the organisations will stay under the Government Sector Employment Act and be in the Department of Finance (Safe work and the regulating authority) the third will report straight to the Minister with staff to be covered by a new award that will mirror and replicate current conditions.
These guarantees will be spelt out in the second reading speech of the legislation in Parliament tomorrow.
The PSA will review that speech to ensure the proper protections are in fact spelt out and we will be arranging meetings with members as soon as possible to discuss the changes and gather feedback.
The PSA will also be seeking briefings from the Minister and/or the agency itself once the plans have been finalised.
Steve Turner
Acting General Secretary
