WORKCOVER CORPORATION

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:55): I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the Leader of the Government, representing the Minister for Industrial Relations, a question in relation to WorkCover.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Just prior to Easter, a number of major events occurred in relation to the management and operation of WorkCover. First, a consultancy report commissioned by the WorkCover board during the ministerial reign of the Hon. Bernard Finnigan—the Walsh report, as it was known—was uploaded onto the WorkCover website on Holy Thursday. Without going into all the details, that report was very critical of the operations of WorkCover, in particular in relation to workers rehabilitation services provided under the WorkCover scheme. I am sure that at a later stage we will have the opportunity to debate aspects of the report.

During that same period, the WorkCover board and/or the Chief Executive Officer saw either the dismissal or agreed retirement—I am not sure what the correct term is—of two senior officers of WorkCover: Mr Jeff Matthews, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, and Mr Ian Rhodes, the Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Executive, Mr Thomson, confirmed to The Independent Weekly and other media sources that those two positions were no longer required in WorkCover's organisational structure. My questions are:

1. What was the final cost of the Walsh review and report?

2. Were any draft or interim copies of the Walsh report provided either to senior officers in WorkCover or to the WorkCover board; if so, did senior officers or anyone on the board suggest any changes to the draft report?

3. If any changes were suggested, what were the nature of those changes?

4. What were the date or dates of receipt of any draft or interim report by officers of WorkCover or the WorkCover board of the Walsh review?

5. In relation to the separation of the two senior officers, can the minister, through WorkCover, provide the total cost of any separation package for both individuals and the cost of any component part of any separation package—that is, any redundancy payment, as opposed, for example, to any leave entitlements that either officer may have accrued?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:58): I thank the honourable member for his questions and will refer them to the Minister for Industrial Relations in another place and bring back a response.