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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-05-27 Daily Xml
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WORKCOVER CORPORATION

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (15:00): I have a supplementary question arising from the last answer.

The PRESIDENT: Just be careful with it.

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON: Will the minister confirm that it has now cost WorkCover Corporation some $4 million for fly-in IMEs who, according to the legal profession, are very pro WorkCover, rather than using the medical examiners we already have in South Australia?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (15:00): I will see what information can be provided in relation to the cost of medical panels. However, it is very easy to use this inflammatory language. Where workers have been unable to return to work for reasons of workplace injury, particularly if it has been a longstanding injury, one can understand why they become frustrated with that situation—I think anyone in that situation would become frustrated—and it is easy to make accusations about biases these panels might have. We have to ensure that those panels act in a fair way. I am sure the vast majority of injured workers do not rort the system; unfortunately, we know that there is a small proportion who do, and that is why any scheme needs protection. I do not accept the accusation that panels are necessarily unfair, but these are all matters which will be—

The Hon. A. Bressington: Fly-ins, the IMEs are flown in at a cost of $4 million.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: I will check that information and bring back a response for the honourable member.

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