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Alarming growth in risk to workers’ health & safety rights under Howard-Costello Govt
New figures released today show there has been an alarming growth in the number of workers whose health and safety rights are at risk under the Howard Government’s poorly resourced workers’ compensation scheme, ‘Comcare’.
In the last year the Howard Government’s ‘Comcare’ workers’ compensation system grew by an additional 75,000 employees and on current trends the scheme will double in size in just four years — growing to cover more than 560,000 workers by 2010.
Unions are concerned there are reduced entitlements for workers under the Federal Comcare system and that, with such rapid growth, there are simply not enough inspectors to ensure workplace health and safety standards are maintained.
Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey has refused to meet today with his State Government counterparts to discuss concerns over the Federal Government’s unfair WorkChoices IR laws, including workplace health and safety issues.
ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:
“John Howard and Peter Costello plan to go further on industrial relations if they win the next election and workplace health and safety is in their sights too.
“The Coalition changed Federal health and safety laws to encourage large companies to move into the under-resourced ‘Comcare’ system and avoid their responsibilities under the State workers’ compensation schemes.
“This means fewer health and safety rights for workers and in the long term less viable State-based workers’ compensation systems.
“There are approximately only 50 workplace inspectors to cover all of the workers in Comcare, with some States not having even one dedicated Comcare inspector.
“Workers in high-risk industries such as construction and transport will receive significantly less compensation for permanent impairment injuries under Comcare and the Federal Government has changed the rules making it harder to claim compensation for mental stress.
“Recent changes to the Federal Government’s Comcare Occupational Health and Safety and Compensation scheme have also taken away the right of workers to run their own elections for a health and safety representative and have made it tougher for workers to access health and safety advice.
“Even more alarming is the fact that the Coalition plans further changes to Federal workplace health and safety and compensation laws if it wins the next election”, said Ms Burrow.
Employees covered by ‘ComCare’
* 2006 - 268,164
* 2007 - 343,069
* 2008* - 417,974
* 2009* - 492,879
* 2010* - 567,784
* ACTU estimate based on current trend.
ACTU Media Release
14 September 2007
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