Congratulations to Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and employment minister Curtis Pitt for their courage in finalising the wind-back of a grossly unfair common law workers compensation “threshold” that barred the rights of hundreds of workers injured as a result of workplace carelessness.
The reversal legislation received the Governor’s assent moments ago, solidifying it as current Qld law.
WorkCover Qld is in a sound financial position and the threshold – which took effect in October 2013 under the former LNP government – was widely criticised for having no economic basis to warrant such a harsh response.
Today’s law applies to carelessly caused workplace injuries from 31 January 2015, the date of the Palaszczuk election victory.
It also reverses the LNP provision that previously allowed prospective employers to access a person’s claims history and provides for greater benefits for firefighters.
General information only, not legal advice. Your situation may differ; speak to a lawyer about your own circumstances.