Karen McNamara (Dobell, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to support the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Improving the Comcare Scheme) Bill 2015. Every Australian has the right for their workplace to be safe, flexible, and productive, with minimal risk of workplace injury and disease. For those who are injured in the course of their employment, it is essential that they are provided every opportunity to recover and to return to work as quickly as possible. Australia needs a modern workers' compensation scheme that meets the needs of today's workforce and is sustainable into the future.

There are two important elements that can assist workers returning to work following a workplace injury: firstly, early and effective rehabilitation and, secondly, appropriate financial compensation. Having a job provides people with a strong sense of confidence and self-worth. This is why it is important that we continue to encourage many Australians to gain employment as soon as possible. This principle underpins our determination to encourage many job seekers to go from welfare to work. While circumstances injured workers are different to those of job seekers, the principle of returning people to work is the same.

The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988—also known as the SRC Act—covers Australian and ACT government employees and the employees of the 33 self-insurers under the Comcare scheme. Since it was introduced in 1988, the SRC Act has failed to keep pace with advancements in workplace relations. Today, it is out of step with community standards and evidence-based practices. Since the act was devised in 1988, there have been important changes in workplaces and working conditions, health care and rehabilitation, technology, and individual and social behaviour, along with community expectations. The Comcare scheme has seen return to work rates fall from a high of 89 per cent in 2008-09, to approximately 80 per cent in recent years. In 2012, the former government commissioned the first comprehensive review of the scheme since its introduction. The review found that the scheme does not provide enough support or incentives for injured workers to return to the workplace. In fact, the scheme creates barriers and disincentives for injured workers to recover at work.

Debate adjourned.

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