Question Time

WORKCOVER CORPORATION

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:06): My question is to the Premier.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: Why under the Premier's leadership did the government fail to take action to fix WorkCover in 2005, 2006 and 2007? On 29 March 2007, during a no-confidence motion moved in parliament against the Minister for Industrial Relations, the house heard that the Premier had been advised by Alan Clayton in June 2005 that there were financial problems with WorkCover.

In November 2005, the report of the Statutory Authorities Review Committee (chaired by the Hon. Bob Sneath) warned of the financial problems in WorkCover. In November 2006, the government received the WorkCover Board's report and recommendations for reform and, in 2007, the Liberal opposition again warned the government of the crisis. Why was nothing done?

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Finance, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:07): Plenty has been done, and I have previously talked about what has been done. This government made sure that a new board was put in place. That new board put in place a new CEO, a new management. I have also talked about new regulations which, of course, has provided the opportunity for a contract—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition was given a pretty fair go during his rather lengthy explanation. I now ask members on my left to show the same courtesy to the Minister for Industrial Relations. The Minister for Industrial Relations.

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT: Thank you, sir. As a result of the new regulations, we have seen a new contract put in place. As an example of the change that has occurred, we also see a new single legal services—Minter Ellison—in charge of legal matters. So, a lot has been done. The leader also referred to recommendations previously made by the WorkCover Board. We had a good look at those, but we have called for some independent research and, as a result of that, we now have a package which goes beyond what was put forward by WorkCover. It has measures that are both legislative and non-legislative. Of course, what we would urge the opposition to do is support the legislation before the parliament.