Plans to revamp 'broken' WorkCover scheme stalled in Victorian parliament

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Plans for big changes to WorkCover in Victoria have stalled in parliament with a push for an inquiry into how best to overhaul the scheme. The government had wanted to rein in its huge cost but has failed to win enough support for its changes.

Transcript

00:00 On the lookout for trouble on workers' compensation reform, the Premier has issued this big threat.

00:08 We will need to look at what other changes will need to be made and that includes looking

00:11 at premiums.

00:12 Labor has already hit businesses with higher work cover premiums to cover a billion dollar

00:16 blowout caused by a surge in mental health claims and workers taking longer to recover.

00:22 The Premier says the system is...

00:23 Fundamentally broken.

00:25 It needs to change, there's no question about that.

00:28 But Labor doesn't have the votes in Parliament to do that.

00:31 This bill is half-baked and we have serious concerns about the bill.

00:35 It's not a serious effort to make work cover sustainable in the longer term.

00:41 The Coalition wants a shotgun inquiry to ensure any reforms will actually solve the problem.

00:46 This bill as it's presently drafted will not fix work cover's problems.

00:50 Labor's promised overhaul would set a higher bar for injured workers to get compensation.

00:55 Over-stress and overwork will not be part of that scheme anymore.

00:59 That's raised the ire of unions and the Greens.

01:02 This government needs to go back to the drawing board.

01:03 It needs to do a proper job of reforming work cover.

01:07 Taking more time to examine what's in that bill and the effect on workers can only be

01:11 a good thing.

01:12 What we're looking for is innovative solutions.

01:14 This is the second time since Jacinta Allen took over that Labor's failed to win enough

01:18 votes in the upper house.

01:20 And there's a delicate political path from here.

01:23 Any further increases to premiums will be a political disaster for whoever shoulders

01:28 the blame.

01:29 The government and opposition should not be looking at business as the cash card to pay

01:33 for work cover.

01:35 It needs reform.

01:36 That's something we'll all agree on.

01:38 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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