NSW: More want reform of Workers Comp legislation

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2001
NSW: More want reform of Workers Comp legislation

By Lisa Davies and Linda Silmalis

SYDNEY, April 24 AAP - NSW Premier Bob Carr remained committed to his workers compensation
reform package today despite the growing list of backbenchers calling for amendments to
the Bill.

The NSW Labor Council confirmed 42 of the state's 52 Labor backbenchers would support
"sensible amendments" to the legislation, which overhauls WorkCover laws.

But Mr Carr denied it was a revolt against his government.

"The government has said that after talking to the unions, it will be amending the
legislation," Mr Carr said.

State MPs have been keen to play down suggestions of an "us against them" fight for
reform but the number of dissenters continues to increase.

South coast MPs Wayne Smith and Marianne Saliba threw their weight behind the calls
for reforms to the Bill which was introduced by state industrial relations minister John
Della Bosca.

Mr Smith said he would support any appropriate amendments proposed by the trade union
movement because the change was urgently needed.

"The system needs to be worked upon and I think to sign a letter saying I support the
withdrawal of the bill is not the way to go, because it means nothing changes," Mr Smith
said.

"I've still got people complaining from the workforce, I've still got small business
complaining (about rises in premiums) and we've still got this huge debt that the taxpayer
has to pick up."

Both Mr Smith and Ms Saliba said they were confident an agreement could be reached
before parliament reconvenes at the end of May.

In almost a week of industrial action brought by union groups fighting the proposed
changes, bus, ferry and train passengers have enjoyed free rides while the state's building
workers and fire brigade officers have walked off the job.

Beer supplies to parliament house have dried up and maintenance of lifts in ministerial
office buildings were stopped in protest of the Bill.

Ambulance workers will join the campaign of rolling action on Thursday, announcing
they will impose paperwork bans for 24 hours from 8am.

Members of the Health and Research Employees Association (HREA) said no revenue would
be collected in relation to the work ambulance officers do in New South Wales on that
day.

"The clinical notes that the ambulance officers take will go to the hospital with the
patient, what won't go is the billing paper that can generate the revenue," HREA secretary
Craig Thomson told journalists.

Mr Thomson said the bans could cost the government about half a million dollars a day
and he would not rule out further action over the coming weeks.

NSW Labor Council secretary Michael Costa indicated the peak union group's determination
to see a result at any cost.

"I've said all along this is a threshold issue for the Labor movement, a cornerstone
issue," he said.

"We will take whatever action is necessary to ensure the legislation, particularly
the offensive bits of it, are amended in line with ALP policy to protect the rights of
injured workers."

Mr Costa said the Labor Council would announce further industrial action over the coming
days, possibly involving the police service, the only emergency service not yet involved
in strikes.

AAP ld/nf/cjh/de s

KEYWORD: WORKERSCOMP NIGHTLEAD

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