WA compensation campaign
By Stephen Robson
PERTH — Unions here have endorsed a proposal to organise protests culminating in a rally on August 19 in response to state government changes to workers compensation.
TLC assistant secretary Tony Cooke told delegates at the Trades and Labour Council meeting on July 13 that the campaign would include a series of city and regional meetings.
The main change is to restrict the ability of workers to use common law to claim compensation. The government proposes to establish a threshold of 30% loss of bodily function before common law is available.
Those with less than 30% loss will have access only to workers compensation payments.
Minister for labour relations Graham Kierath blocked all access to common law from 4 p.m., June 30. Once the new legislation has gone through parliament, common law claims will again be able to proceed.
Workers who were involved in accidents prior to June 30 but where writs were not issued do not now have access to common law.