WORKCOVER

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:12): My question is again to the Premier. Is it the case that WorkCover spends more on rehabilitation services than the Victorian scheme, which is three times the size, and yet achieves here worse return-to-work outcomes?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Workers Rehabilitation, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:12): We are addressing these issues, particularly with the change and the recent announcement that we made with regard to a WorkCover board, made with regard to the change in claims management, moving from one to two providers. We have also changed the nature of those contracts—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: We have changed the nature of those contracts to put into those contracts the incentives and the drivers that we need in order to drive improved outcomes, particularly return-to-work—

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, order!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —outcomes in the WorkCover scheme. It is not rocket science that you need to have—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —best return-to-work outcomes. The best way to get a good outcome for an injured worker is to get them back to work as soon as possible. We are going about the business of making the reforms that we need to build on the reforms that were made in 2008. Reforms went through the parliament—it was either earlier this year or late last year—to change the employer payments scheme—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —to put the incentives in place to get better outcomes and to build the incentives in there for employers. We are making all of those reforms to make further improvements to the way our WorkCover scheme operates.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Deputy leader and the Leader of the Opposition, order!