WORKCOVER CORPORATION

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (14:54): Is the minister completely happy with EML as the claims manager for WorkCover and, if not, what action does he intend to take to improve claims management performance?

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Finance, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:54): EML is the new claims agent. They were chosen by the WorkCover Board. I think I have said to the house previously that the management of claims is better than what it once used to be but it is still not perfect. I am sure that the board is monitoring and working very closely with EML to ensure that claims management is always on the improve. We can do better and we shall do better. That is what claims management is all about. But what we can be confident about is twofold: one is that the change in the regulations that were brought about enabled a contract to be struck where there are better incentives in place and penalties, and the other thing we can be confident of is that EML is doing better than the previous claims agents.