Commerce Minister Troy Buswell today announced a review of Western Australia’s workers’ compensation legislation.

“The review aims to create a more flexible, responsive and modern workers’ compensation and injury management legislation,” Mr Buswell said.

“While the workers’ compensation scheme itself is healthy and delivers good outcomes for employers and injured workers, the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act is widely regarded as a cumbersome and complex piece of legislation.

“When it first passed in 1981, the Act contained 175 sections and was 155 pages long. It now contains 375 sections and is 419 pages long.”

The review would consider a range of issues raised by stakeholders, including current workers’ compensation entitlements for workers over the age of 65 years.

The Minister said the review also provides an opportunity to address any continuing concerns arising out of the 2005 changes to the Act.

“I have asked WorkCover WA to manage a process of legislative review over the course of this year, which will include thorough consultation with employers, workers, insurers and other service providers within the workers’ compensation system,” he said.

WorkCover WA will produce a series of discussion papers on issues of importance, with a view to gaining community feedback on proposed directions.

Mr Buswell encouraged those with an interest in workers’ compensation to embrace the opportunity to provide input to the review process.

“We need to make sure that the workers’ compensation legislation delivers for workers and employers, at all times, and particularly in a time of economic volatility,” the Minister said.

“It is important that employers maintain their responsibilities towards injured workers, and I intend to keep within the legislation, a focus on injury management and returning injured workers to sustainable employment.”