WorkSafe fights back to defend against attacks

WORKSAFE has defended its WorkCover scheme after the Dandenong Chamber of Commerce last week criticised a WorkCover funding boost for not benefiting employers.
Chamber of Commerce president David Carlson welcomed a $155 million improvement package to benefit employees making WorkCover claims, but said WorkCover premiums paid by employers were still a major cost.
Mr Carlson said employers should have shared in the funding boost windfall.
But WorkSafe this week said employers had already been receiving benefits including a 10 per cent premium reduction for each of the past two financial years.
WorkSafe spokesman Michael Birt said the premiums were the second lowest of all the states. “We’ve got a responsibility to Victorian taxpayers to provide a balanced system where both the interests of employees and employers are met,” he said.
“Through the premium reduction and increase in (employee) benefits we are trying to do that.
“We have also got the responsibility that the longterm scheme is financially viable so further improvements can be made.”
Mr Birt said a consultation process with employers allowing them to air their opinions on the scheme would commence in January 2006.
Mr Birt said in WorkSafe’s most recent figures, a fouryear period between July 2000 and July 2004, Dandenong alone hosted 7067 claims valued collectively at $103 million.