RANN PULLS A 'HOWARD' ON HURT WORKERS

26 February  2008

Premier Mike Rann has abandoned any pretence of fairness and decency in sacrificing the rights of injured workers in order to prop up business profits.

The Premier's WorkCover legislation introduced this week will cut entitlements to those in need.

Meanwhile, instead of measures to ensure business takes responsibility for reducing workplace injuries, it will be rewarded for its ineptitude with a reduction in WorkCover levies.

"This is a travesty" SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles says.

"Mike Rann risks being compared to John Howard by workers.  He's stripping away their rights in order to appease the business lobby."

"He has entirely reneged on his public commitment of last week.  On 18 February he told the ABC that "We basically want to fix WorkCover, we are going to fix WorkCover and we're going to do it in a way that's generous to workers..."

"Stripping worker entitlements is the opposite of generous.  The clear message from Mike Rann to workers is 'if you get hurt, don't expect this government to help'.  What's more, workers will have no legal recourse.  He has hung them out to dry", Ms Giles says.

The Government intends tomorrow to move legislation that will -

• cut workers' take home pay by 20% after 13 weeks if they are injured

• cut workers completely off the scheme after 2 and a half years unless they are totally incpacitated

• significantly reduce lump sum payments for serious injury and missing limbs

• compulsory review of injured workers' incomes every 12 weeks if they challenge WorkCover, in a bid to discourage workers from disputing decisions.

• No access to common law rights as exists in other states.

Ms Giles says the legislation is entirely out of touch with the concerns of the community.  This week we revealed that a survey of 400 people conducted by McGregor Tan Research has shown strong support for injured workers, with two out of three people opposing cuts to entitlements in order to reduce the cost to business.

"Now we can also reveal that South Australians want injured workers to be paid more generous entitlements, not less."

"People were asked 'Do you think injured workers deserve.... (a) more support (b) about the same level of support (c) less support?"

"The results are unambiguous.  37% want more support and 44% want about the same level of support.  That's more than 80% of people who recognise the importance of supporting injured workers to rehabilitate and safely return to productive roles in the workplace.  Only 1% wanted less support, and the remaining 18% said they didn't know."

"This government risks alienating all South Australians who rely on WorkCover as an insurance against workplace injury.  The people of South Australia want and deserve the best workplace protection in Australia, not the worst.  Mike Rann must think again", Ms Giles says.