A controversial Bill cutting injured workers' benefits in Victoria has passed Parliament under a deal that will freeze employer premiums for at least a year.
Workers' comp claims for "stress" and "burnout" are being axed in Victoria, with the State Government acting on its May 2023 plan to fix the "broken" compensation scheme by cutting benefits.
A regulator could be empowered to overturn the decisions of companies self-insured against workplace injuries, with the Victorian Ombudsman finding the system is "patchy and unequal", and highlighting a case where a worker who was entitled to $75,000 was offered a $2,000 settlement.
Employers will be required to report safety "near misses" and incidents involving infectious diseases to a workplace safety regulator, under new Victorian laws that also increase the benefits available to workers with silicosis and similar conditions.