❓ Hon Wilson Tucker questions the rationale for providing presumptive PTSD coverage to professional firefighters but not volunteer firefighters. The Minister's response clarifies that workers' compensation legislation applies only to employed workers, but volunteers are covered by similar insurance under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1998.
AnsweredQoN 1295Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FIREFIGHTERS —
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
1295. Hon WILSON TUCKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Industrial Relations:
Can the minister please articulate
the rationale for the government's decision to extend presumptive
post-traumatic stress disorder coverage to
professional firefighters while withholding that same coverage from volunteer
firefighters?
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
1295. Hon WILSON TUCKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Industrial Relations:
Can the minister please articulate
the rationale for the government's decision to extend presumptive
post-traumatic stress disorder coverage to
professional firefighters while withholding that same coverage from volunteer
firefighters?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister
for Industrial Relations.
The state government acknowledges
all emergency services volunteers for their unwavering dedication and
commitment to keeping our Western Australian communities safe. Workers
compensation legislation does not apply to volunteers and only covers workers
for injuries that arise in the course of their employment. Therefore any
presumptive disease that is prescribed in regulations under the workers
compensation legislation can apply only to employed workers as defined in the
legislation—such as post-traumatic stress disorder for employed career
firefighters. As explained during consideration of the Workers Compensation and
Injury Management Bill 2023, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services
provides insurance for all its volunteers as required by the Fire and Emergency
Services Act 1998. The coverage provided is similar to those employed at DFES
who fall under the Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act
1981.
of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister
for Industrial Relations.
The state government acknowledges
all emergency services volunteers for their unwavering dedication and
commitment to keeping our Western Australian communities safe. Workers
compensation legislation does not apply to volunteers and only covers workers
for injuries that arise in the course of their employment. Therefore any
presumptive disease that is prescribed in regulations under the workers
compensation legislation can apply only to employed workers as defined in the
legislation—such as post-traumatic stress disorder for employed career
firefighters. As explained during consideration of the Workers Compensation and
Injury Management Bill 2023, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services
provides insurance for all its volunteers as required by the Fire and Emergency
Services Act 1998. The coverage provided is similar to those employed at DFES
who fall under the Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act
1981.
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