Premiums to tumble under NSW inquiry proposals, employers say; Warnings issued after fall and machine-crush fatalities; and First National Rail Safety Regulator appointed.
Comcare-covered employers can expect modest premium increases, at worst, after the Federal Government announced that the scheme's claims liabilities will remain "relatively stable", and its total expenses will nearly halve, in the next financial year.
Many Victorian employers' workers' compensation premiums will be reduced by more than 10 per cent on 1 July, the State Government has announced in delivering its 2012/13 budget.
The NSW Government will consider removing WorkCover journey claims and reducing step-down periods to prevent premiums from increasing by 28 per cent, but unions warn that injured workers will be abandoned under the proposals.
Western Australia's average workers' compensation premium rate will increase for the third time in 12 months because of "the challenging economic environment and improvements to worker entitlements".
The NSW Government will today announce plans to curtail injured workers' entitlements in an effort to reduce employer premiums, but unions have warned the move could end in "disaster".
South Australia's average premium rate - the nation's highest - will remain unchanged in the next financial year, with WorkCover's unfunded liability rising above $1 billion for the first time since 2009. Also in this article, WorkSafe Victoria has reported a record-low injury rate.
Victorian "dividend" Bill could push up workers' comp premiums; Study finds injured workers require "intensive" help; Western Australia introduces firefighter compensation Bill; and WorkCover NSW investigates forklift death, releases investigations fact sheet.
Victorian employer United Petroleum has successfully appealed against a decision to change the industry classification of its Melbourne-based national head office to "service stations", and more than quadruple its workers' compensation premiums.
South Australian on-hire agencies to pay lower workers' comp levies; Workplace fatality reports reveal high pedestrian and rural death rates; Rollover-protection opponents relying on flawed simulation tests; Comcare's inaugural health and safety awards open; and WorkCover NSW hosting free harmonisation webinars.
