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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-10-20 Daily Xml
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WORKCOVER CORPORATION

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:02): I seek leave to make an explanation prior to directing a question on the subject of WorkCover to the minister representing the minister for WorkCover.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Recent national surveys have shown that the WorkCover scheme in South Australia has the worst return-to-work figures or records of any scheme in the nation. That has continued for a number of years now and continues even after the government's amendments of 2008.

Page 1809 of this year's Auditor-General's Report lists related parties' transactions with members of the board of WorkCover. In relation to Ms Sandra De Poi and a company in which she has an interest (De Poi Consulting Pty Ltd), the Auditor-General reports that for the provision of rehab and medical services Ms De Poi's companies, this year, received contracts to the value of $8.4 million—increased from $5.9 million in the previous year and increased from $3.1 million just two years ago. The Auditor-General reports that Ms De Poi's company or companies, in two years, have increased their contracts with WorkCover, or the claims agent for WorkCover, by $5.3 million to a total of $8.4 million or 171 per cent.

The Auditor-General does record the total expenditure by WorkCover on vocational rehabilitation and medical services. The Auditor-General's Report showed that in the same two years the increase in expenditure on medical services was a mere 5.8 per cent and the increase in expenditure on vocational rehabilitation services in the same two years was 37.8 per cent, compared to the increased value of Ms De Poi's company's contracts of 171 per cent.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: She is Leon's girlfriend, isn't she?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: I think partner in life, perhaps; I am not sure what the correct descriptor is. On 10 March this year I asked a number of questions, two of which I repeat, to the former minister for WorkCover, the Hon. Bernard Finnigan:

1. Have any concerns been expressed to the minister about the recent significant increase in the value of contracts being awarded to Ms De Poi's companies, and if yes, what action, if any, did he take?

2. What evidence, if any, is there that the return-to-work outcomes or other outcomes being achieved by Ms De Poi's companies are better than the scheme average and most other providers for each of the 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 financial years?

I never received a response to those questions from the Hon. Bernard Finnigan or, indeed, from ministers who followed the Hon. Bernard Finnigan in that particular role. My three questions to the new minister responsible for WorkCover are:

1. Was any work undertaken by the previous ministers for WorkCover to provide answers to the questions that I asked on 10 March and, if so, can they be provided?

2. Have any concerns been expressed to the current minister about the recent significant increase in the value of the contracts being awarded to Ms De Poi's companies? If yes, what action, if any, has he taken?

3. What evidence, if any, is there that the return-to-work outcomes, or other outcomes being achieved by Ms De Poi's companies, are better than the scheme average and most other providers for each of the 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and now 2010-11 financial years?

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) (15:06): I thank the member for his questions and will refer them to the relevant ministers in another place and bring back a response.

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