Question Time

WORKCOVER CORPORATION

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:13): My question is to the Premier. When will his government, his cabinet and the Labor caucus agree on legislation dealing with the promises he made on WorkCover from March 2007, including promises that he would ensure that injured workers continue to receive a fair financial and other support, that levy rates are cut and that the scheme is fully funded? SA unions today claimed:

Premier Mike Rann has abandoned any pretence to fairness and decency in sacrificing the rights of injured workers.

The union has claimed that the government intends tomorrow to move legislation which will:

...cut workers take-home pay by 20 per cent after 13 weeks if they are injured, cut workers completely off the scheme after 2½ years unless they are totally incapacitated, significantly reduce lump sum payments for serious injury and missing limbs, compulsorily review injured workers' incomes every 12 weeks if they challenge WorkCover in a bid to discourage workers from disputing decisions and no access to common law rights as exist in other states.

The union goes on to say, 'Mike Rann risks being compared to John Howard by workers.'

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I do not think the explanation adds anything to the understanding of the question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:15): I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition asks a question about something about which I just informed the house. I guess it was all for the cameras, because he hopes that somehow they will use what I said during the ministerial statement as some kind of answer to the question he asked after the ministerial statement. I have already told you that the government will be making its decision tomorrow.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. Foley interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier will come to order!