❓ Mr McRae asks the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection about concerns raised by the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) regarding potential increases in workers' compensation premiums due to Rob Guthrie's report. The Minister rejects the CCI's claims as scare-mongering and expresses commitment to reform.
AnsweredQoN 445Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WORKERS COMPENSATION PREMIUMS, INCREASE 445. Mr McRAE to the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection: Can the minister comment on suggestions by the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry that the recommendations from Rob Guthrie’s report will push up workers compensation premiums by one-third? Mr KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
I totally reject the scare-mongering by the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which in a fax to its members said, amongst other things, “CCI believes the proposed changes could result in increases of at least 33 per cent”. It would appear that in issuing that statement, the CCI had probably not even read the Guthrie report. We know there are major problems with our workers compensation system. We also know that, even with goodwill, it is difficult to make changes, because there are so many players. It is a very difficult and contentious area and, therefore, reform and improvement is always a difficult process. Prior to the election we committed ourselves to reforming the workers compensation system and we laid down policies on which we will deliver. In order to do that, Rob Guthrie, a well-known academic from Curtin University who specialises in workers compensation, prepared a report on the implementation of our policy. That report has been put out to the community for consultation, particularly with interest groups such as the CCI, and this afternoon Mr Guthrie is presenting that information at a forum for the CCI and its members. I hope the CCI will take off its blinkers and work with the Government to improve our workers compensation system, as most of the other key stakeholders have already indicated their willingness to do. We will then be able to make improvements to our workers compensation system, with employers paying the same or lower premiums, and the system will not be the worst in Australia as it was under the previous Government, but will be turned into the best in Australia.
WORKERS COMPENSATION PREMIUMS, INCREASE
Can the minister comment on suggestions by the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry that the recommendations from Rob Guthrie’s report will push up workers compensation premiums by one-third? Mr KOBELKE replied: I totally reject the scare-mongering by the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which in a fax to its members said, amongst other things, “CCI believes the proposed changes could result in increases of at least 33 per cent”. It would appear that in issuing that statement, the CCI had probably not even read the Guthrie report. We know there are major problems with our workers compensation system. We also know that, even with goodwill, it is difficult to make changes, because there are so many players. It is a very difficult and contentious area and, therefore, reform and improvement is always a difficult process. Prior to the election we committed ourselves to reforming the workers compensation system and we laid down policies on which we will deliver. In order to do that, Rob Guthrie, a well-known academic from Curtin University who specialises in workers compensation, prepared a report on the implementation of our policy. That report has been put out to the community for consultation, particularly with interest groups such as the CCI, and this afternoon Mr Guthrie is presenting that information at a forum for the CCI and its members. I hope the CCI will take off its blinkers and work with the Government to improve our workers compensation system, as most of the other key stakeholders have already indicated their willingness to do. We will then be able to make improvements to our workers compensation system, with employers paying the same or lower premiums, and the system will not be the worst in Australia as it was under the previous Government, but will be turned into the best in Australia.
Mr KOBELKE replied: I totally reject the scare-mongering by the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which in a fax to its members said, amongst other things, “CCI believes the proposed changes could result in increases of at least 33 per cent”. It would appear that in issuing that statement, the CCI had probably not even read the Guthrie report. We know there are major problems with our workers compensation system. We also know that, even with goodwill, it is difficult to make changes, because there are so many players. It is a very difficult and contentious area and, therefore, reform and improvement is always a difficult process. Prior to the election we committed ourselves to reforming the workers compensation system and we laid down policies on which we will deliver. In order to do that, Rob Guthrie, a well-known academic from Curtin University who specialises in workers compensation, prepared a report on the implementation of our policy. That report has been put out to the community for consultation, particularly with interest groups such as the CCI, and this afternoon Mr Guthrie is presenting that information at a forum for the CCI and its members. I hope the CCI will take off its blinkers and work with the Government to improve our workers compensation system, as most of the other key stakeholders have already indicated their willingness to do. We will then be able to make improvements to our workers compensation system, with employers paying the same or lower premiums, and the system will not be the worst in Australia as it was under the previous Government, but will be turned into the best in Australia.
I totally reject the scare-mongering by the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which in a fax to its members said, amongst other things, “CCI believes the proposed changes could result in increases of at least 33 per cent”. It would appear that in issuing that statement, the CCI had probably not even read the Guthrie report. We know there are major problems with our workers compensation system. We also know that, even with goodwill, it is difficult to make changes, because there are so many players. It is a very difficult and contentious area and, therefore, reform and improvement is always a difficult process. Prior to the election we committed ourselves to reforming the workers compensation system and we laid down policies on which we will deliver. In order to do that, Rob Guthrie, a well-known academic from Curtin University who specialises in workers compensation, prepared a report on the implementation of our policy. That report has been put out to the community for consultation, particularly with interest groups such as the CCI, and this afternoon Mr Guthrie is presenting that information at a forum for the CCI and its members. I hope the CCI will take off its blinkers and work with the Government to improve our workers compensation system, as most of the other key stakeholders have already indicated their willingness to do. We will then be able to make improvements to our workers compensation system, with employers paying the same or lower premiums, and the system will not be the worst in Australia as it was under the previous Government, but will be turned into the best in Australia.
WORKERS COMPENSATION PREMIUMS, INCREASE
Can the minister comment on suggestions by the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry that the recommendations from Rob Guthrie’s report will push up workers compensation premiums by one-third? Mr KOBELKE replied: I totally reject the scare-mongering by the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which in a fax to its members said, amongst other things, “CCI believes the proposed changes could result in increases of at least 33 per cent”. It would appear that in issuing that statement, the CCI had probably not even read the Guthrie report. We know there are major problems with our workers compensation system. We also know that, even with goodwill, it is difficult to make changes, because there are so many players. It is a very difficult and contentious area and, therefore, reform and improvement is always a difficult process. Prior to the election we committed ourselves to reforming the workers compensation system and we laid down policies on which we will deliver. In order to do that, Rob Guthrie, a well-known academic from Curtin University who specialises in workers compensation, prepared a report on the implementation of our policy. That report has been put out to the community for consultation, particularly with interest groups such as the CCI, and this afternoon Mr Guthrie is presenting that information at a forum for the CCI and its members. I hope the CCI will take off its blinkers and work with the Government to improve our workers compensation system, as most of the other key stakeholders have already indicated their willingness to do. We will then be able to make improvements to our workers compensation system, with employers paying the same or lower premiums, and the system will not be the worst in Australia as it was under the previous Government, but will be turned into the best in Australia.
Mr KOBELKE replied: I totally reject the scare-mongering by the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which in a fax to its members said, amongst other things, “CCI believes the proposed changes could result in increases of at least 33 per cent”. It would appear that in issuing that statement, the CCI had probably not even read the Guthrie report. We know there are major problems with our workers compensation system. We also know that, even with goodwill, it is difficult to make changes, because there are so many players. It is a very difficult and contentious area and, therefore, reform and improvement is always a difficult process. Prior to the election we committed ourselves to reforming the workers compensation system and we laid down policies on which we will deliver. In order to do that, Rob Guthrie, a well-known academic from Curtin University who specialises in workers compensation, prepared a report on the implementation of our policy. That report has been put out to the community for consultation, particularly with interest groups such as the CCI, and this afternoon Mr Guthrie is presenting that information at a forum for the CCI and its members. I hope the CCI will take off its blinkers and work with the Government to improve our workers compensation system, as most of the other key stakeholders have already indicated their willingness to do. We will then be able to make improvements to our workers compensation system, with employers paying the same or lower premiums, and the system will not be the worst in Australia as it was under the previous Government, but will be turned into the best in Australia.
I totally reject the scare-mongering by the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which in a fax to its members said, amongst other things, “CCI believes the proposed changes could result in increases of at least 33 per cent”. It would appear that in issuing that statement, the CCI had probably not even read the Guthrie report. We know there are major problems with our workers compensation system. We also know that, even with goodwill, it is difficult to make changes, because there are so many players. It is a very difficult and contentious area and, therefore, reform and improvement is always a difficult process. Prior to the election we committed ourselves to reforming the workers compensation system and we laid down policies on which we will deliver. In order to do that, Rob Guthrie, a well-known academic from Curtin University who specialises in workers compensation, prepared a report on the implementation of our policy. That report has been put out to the community for consultation, particularly with interest groups such as the CCI, and this afternoon Mr Guthrie is presenting that information at a forum for the CCI and its members. I hope the CCI will take off its blinkers and work with the Government to improve our workers compensation system, as most of the other key stakeholders have already indicated their willingness to do. We will then be able to make improvements to our workers compensation system, with employers paying the same or lower premiums, and the system will not be the worst in Australia as it was under the previous Government, but will be turned into the best in Australia.
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