WorkCover must direct its budget surplus to injured workers

If the following article was published in 2006 and the Government are
aware of this possibility and have a large surplus then why havent they trialed
it?

This size surplus for instance, could help those injured workers hurt during
Kennetts Law in Victoria to be able to access some form of compensation?
but it seems that injured workers are the last things on the minds of Government
and worksafe in all states.

Greens MP and industrial relations spokesperson, Lee Rhiannon today
challenged the Industrial Relations Minister, John Della Bosca in parliamentary
question time to direct part of a $2 billion WorkCover budget windfall towards
injured workers.

“The Greens have challenged the government to direct an $85 million budget
surplus from its $2 billion WorkCover windfall towards fairer compensation for
injured workers,” said Ms Rhiannon.

“The $2 billion budget windfall was revealed in a secret WorkCover report
obtained under freedom of information by the NSW Law Society.
“The contentious WorkCover report, dated July 2005, showed the WorkCover
Authority expected to pay off its $2 billion deficit by 2012.
Instead, it had an unexpected $85 million surplus only one year later.

“Labor used most of the $2 billion surplus to pay off WorkCover’s budget deficit,
and Minister Della Bosca refused to say how they will spend the remaining
$85 million.

“It’s a disgrace that while 9 out of 10 workers in NSW are being denied fair
compensation, WorkCover has reaped almost $2 billion in surplus revenue.

“The $2 billion WorkCover surplus has come at the expense of fair compensation
for NSW workers following Labor’s cuts to worker’s entitlements in 2001.
“This revelation proves that Labor’s harsh worker’s compensation laws
introduced in 2001 are depriving injured workers of their entitlements.

“How can Minister Della Bosca take pride in the NSW worker’s compensation
scheme which is not indexed to inflation and is so restrictive?“I was a member
of the NSW Upper House committee that recommended unanimously last
year to bring WorkCover in line with the public liability scheme * advice that was
rejected by Minister Della Bosca.

“The $2 billion budget windfall clearly shows that WorkCover can afford to pay
fairer compensation to injured workers in NSW.

“The Greens will continue to push for a better deal for injured workers,”
Ms Rhiannon said. 12/12/2006