When the new workers’ compensation laws were introduced, different parts of the legislation came into operation at different times.
One change the government reluctantly agreed to hold off implementing was about making workers pay their own legal costs before the
Workers Compensation Commission. Previously when a worker won their case, their lawyers got paid by the insurer, and if the worker lost their case, their lawyer didn’t get paid.
Under the change, a worker will have to pay their own legal costs whether they win or lose.
This change will make it financially impossible for many workers to challenge an insurer’s decision to decline a workers’ comp claim or refuse to pay for certain medical treatment.
I am worried the NSW government plans to now go ahead and implement this change.
We understand it is planning to do it on Monday – the Labour Day public holiday – because it thinks it will not get much media attention.
Can Mr Anderson remember who voted him into parliament? Was it all the people that this legislation is going to affect?
As our local member, can Mr Anderson please advise that the NSW government is not going to implement this?
PETER LAWLER
TAMWORTH
