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WORKCOVER: 'BLAME THE VICTIM' RESPONSE ADDS INSULT TO INJURY

News Release - Friday, 18th August 2000

The Bracks Labor government has adopted a "blame the victim" response to concerns about WorkCover premiums raised by the Opposition in State Parliament this week.

The Opposition raised more than 45 examples of small and medium size businesses which have been hit by premium increases of up to 275%.

However in responding to questions about premium increases faced by nursing homes, intellectual disability centres, light engineering and local government, WorkCover Minister Bob Cameron repeatedly tried to attribute the increases to poor safety records by the employer or industry concerned.

Shadow WorkCover Minister, Robert Clark, said Mr Cameron's response was a deliberate attempt to avoid facing the real reason for the massive increase in premiums, and added insult to injury for the employers concerned.

"The Minister knows full well that the real reason why employers are being hit out of the blue with huge premium increases is that he has deliberately chosen to impose a 17% across-the-board increase on top of the usual safety record adjustments to premiums.

"The Minister has expressed no regret and has accepted no responsibility for the job losses, service cuts and price increases which many employers have warned will follow from these premium hikes.

"To tell employers who have never had a WorkCover claim in the history of their business that the best solution is for their industry to improve its safety record shows the Minister does not understand the bungled premium increase model he has inflicted on employers.

"No wonder the Premier by-passed the Minister and entered into direct talks with employers last week," he said.

Mr Clark also rejected claims by Mr Cameron that premium increases were necessary to meet WorkCover's unfunded liabilities.

"WorkCover was more than covering its costs and was on track to return to the black by 2001. No premium rise would have been needed if it were not for the Bracks Labor government's changes to WorkCover."

Examples of businesses hard hit by WorkCover premium increases raised by the Opposition in Parliament this week included:

- a farmer whose premium has gone from $100 to $375

- a stock agency with a 60% premium increase

- a 54% increase for a light engineering firm in Bayswater, Seahawk Pty Ltd, which has not had a claim in 19 years in business

- Melba Support Services, which has suffered a $108,371 premium increase and is facing having to cut outings for intellectually disabled clients