2025-08-06
The NSW Greens have condemned the Minns Labor Government for their attempt to subvert parliamentary process by reintroducing a minorly-amended new version of their legislation to cut workers compensation entitlements.
This morning, the Minns Labor government introduced their third version of legislation to cut back workers compensation entitlements in as many months, seeking to subvert the deliberative process of the NSW Parliament which is currently examining a nearly identical Bill through an upper house inquiry.
Quotes attributable to Greens NSW MP, Abigail Boyd, Chair of the Public Accountability and Works Committee, and Greens NSW spokesperson for Work Health and Safety:
“It’s not every day you witness the kind of woeful incompetence coupled with breathtaking arrogance as the Minns Labor Government has displayed this week.
“Three Bills in three months is frankly embarrassing, and makes a mockery of the proper process. It’s an omnishambles of the government’s own making.
“The Public Accountability and Works Committee is in the midst of an inquiry into the government’s proposed cuts to workers compensation entitlements, having recently resolved to hold one further hearing which will focus on receiving direct evidence from injured workers about their experience navigating the workers compensation system and the way in which they will be impacted by the government’s proposed cuts. Contrary to the allegations levelled against the committee in the Minister’s speech, the Minister should have been aware of this resolution, and would know full well that the intent of the inquiry is not to delay unreasonably or otherwise seek to frustrate the legislation, but in fact to grapple with the complex issues and problematic proposals the government has put forward.
“It is hardly unusual for an inquiry to have a third day of hearing. In fact, of the last inquiries conducted by the Public Accountability and Works Committee, we have had 10 hearing days for one inquiry, 3 for another, and 4 hearing days for another inquiry that remains ongoing. This is the typical deliberative process that is undertaken when considering issues of significance, and it is what the public rightly expects from its elected representatives.
“Perhaps if the Government had not sought to concoct this legislation shrouded in such secrecy, without consultation with any stakeholders, this process may have been simpler. Unfortunately, the implications of the cuts proposed to be imposed on some of the most vulnerable people in our state, people who have been devastatingly psychologically injured in their work, require a serious and considered approach. An approach that has been sorely lacking in the government’s deeply unserious attempts at public policy making.
“I welcome the government’s incorporation of the amendments the Greens proposed in June to the Work Health and Safety Act that restrict digital platform-driven work intensification. Improvements of this sort are possible when all parties and stakeholders are given the opportunity to meaningfully input into proposed reforms.
“We are unfortunately stuck with matters of critical public policy being steered by the Premier’s media unit, rather than anyone with any understanding of the policy landscape and implications, or even it would appear the relevant Minister. Labor needs to stop playing politics with people’s lives and start having a mature conversation with all relevant stakeholders about how we can chart a path together towards a sustainable workers compensation system with the interests of injured workers at its core.”
Further comment and information:
Angus Hoy: 0416 130 969