Return to Work Scheme

The Hon. C. BONAROS (15:09): A supplementary: how and when will this process of reversing those detrimental guidelines occur or take place?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Attorney-General, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:09): I thank the honourable member for her question. Of course, one of the criticisms of the guidelines previously was the lack of consultation that is required in making the guidelines. We are committed, as I said, to reversing those ones that are problematic and difficult and make it harder for injured workers.

Some of those that are almost universally agreed to be better for the administration of the scheme we will look to retain. We are looking at that now; given the legislative requirement for guidelines to have consultation, that is something we will be looking at doing. We are committed to doing that and creating a way for changing the legislation to allow for the guidelines in the future to be a disallowable instrument.