Our mental health is not for sale.
The NSW Treasurer has proposed extreme changes to the workers compensation system.
Workers are coming together to protest these unfair changes – see below for rally locations.
Treasurer Mookhey is proposing to make it harder for seriously injured workers to access mental health benefits and support.
The draft Exposure Workers Compensation Amendment Bill proposes the following reforms, which are unfair and harmful:
- Thresholds for seriously injured workers to receive income support and medical benefits for the long term care and support for injured teachers are proposed to more than double
- Thresholds to access lump-sum payments and work injury damages will increase from 15 per cent to 31 per cent
- A new definition of psychological injury which excludes several current psychosocial hazards identified by Safework NSW
- Teachers will be required to have a finding from either a newly established NSW Bullying and Harassment jurisdiction at the Industrial Relations Commission or the existing jurisdiction at the Fair Work Commission before being able to make a claim which includes accessing medical interventions
- A new definition of reasonable management action
- Limited medical benefits only for work pressure claims.
These proposed changes will do nothing for the prevention of workplace injuries. This is a cost-cutting exercise. There are better ways to fix the system than cutting support for injured workers. Mental health injuries are real. Cutting off support for our teachers who suffer them is a betrayal.
Unions NSW will be holding a number of actions in response to these proposed changes.
Members are encouraged to attend if available.
Rally times and locations
| Date | Location | Address | Time | RSVP |
| Wednesday, 21 May | Parramatta | Centenary Square, Church St, Parramatta | 4pm | Tell us you’re coming |
| Wednesday, 21 May | Tweed | Chris Cunningham Park (Jack Evan’s Boat Harbour) | 8am | Tell us you’re coming |
| Wednesday, 21 May | Wollongong | 2/51 Crown Street, Wollongong (The Hon Paul Scully Office) | 4pm | Tell us you’re coming |
| Thursday, 22 May | Wagga Wagga | Victory Memorial Gardens | 8am | Tell us you’re coming |
| Thursday, 22 May | Newcastle | Pearson Street Mall | 10am | Tell us you’re coming |
| Monday, 26 May | Sydney CBD | Martin Place, Sydney | 8am | Tell us you’re coming |
| Thursday, 29 May | Penrith | Penrith City Park | 8am | Tell us you’re coming |
| Thursday, 29 May | Gosford | Kibble Park, Gosford | 4pm | Tell us you’re coming |
| Thursday, 29 May | Liverpool | Bigge Park, Liverpool | 4pm | Tell us you’re coming |