
Issue No 103		20 July 2001

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

News

Big Boys Bully Over Della Compo Changes

Insurance companies have begun placing pressure on injured workers to settle workers compensation claims before the Della Bosca changes become law and weaken their position.

Despite continual vows from the Minister for Industrial Relations that injured workers would not be worse off, insurance firm QBE is telling injured workers that they should be re-considering their position in light of the changes.

QBE tells the worker to consider a commutation - effectively cashing in all future entitlements for a significantly smaller lump-sum payment.

The letter also raises concerns that the legislation, despite commitment to the contrary, will operate retrospectively.

The CFMEU, whose member received the letter, has accused QBE of "scare-mongering and a deliberate attempt to play on the fears of the public surrounding the recent amendments".

"It is hard to see an innocent explanation, particularly in light of the fact that the author of the letter is a solicitor," the CFMEU's Andrew Ferguson says.

The union is concerned insurers are sending similar letters out to workers without the benefit of trade union and legal representation.

And Ferguson says the insurers' scare tactics underline the need for a strong independent arbitrator such as the Compensation Court to scrutinise all pay-outs of benefits.

Specifically, the CFMEU has called on WorkCover to issue a written direction to all insurers that:

- such correspondence should not be sent to claimants or their lawyers

- that is insurers are going to refer to the new legislation they should set out in detail the effect of the changes on the relevant claim

- if a claimant is not legally represented, the correspondence should advise the claimant to seek legal advice.

- and that QBE should be required to send a letter of apology to all injured workers who received similar letters.

Common Law Inquiry

Meanwhile, Labor Council representatives will present oral submissions to the Sheahan Inquiry into workers compensation common law next Thursday.

Inquiry organisers have undertaken to have transcript of these submission posted on the official inquiry website within 24 hours.

The site is at: http://www.sheahan.inquiry.nsw.gov.au

   All the latest compo news

  View entire issue - print all of the articles!

  Issue 103 contents

Interview: Political Witch Hunt
CFMEU national secretary John Sutton on the mooted Royal Commission and what is really needed to clean up the building industry

E-Change: 1.3 The Nation State in Crisis
In the latest instalment in their study on the new politics, Peter Lewis and Michael Gadiel looks at the rise and fall of the institutional State.

Unions: Industrial Violence
Rowan Cahill agrees with Tony Abbott that thuggery and violence are part of Australian industrial relations landscape - but it's the bosses who do most of the bashing.

History: Total Recoil
Neal Towart looks at how Royal Commissions designed to kick unions have typically come back to haunt their architects.

International: Behind the Eight Ball
Jubilee Australia's Thea Ormond looks at the international activity being generated around this week's Group of Eight Summit in Genoa

Politics: Now We The People
A new group believes there is an alternative to corporate gobalism and economic rationalism

Satire: Marsden Now to Sue Himself
Sydney solicitor John Marsden is suing himself for defamation, claiming the recent libel case he brought did irreparable damage to his reputation.

Review: In The House
Resident Four-Eyes Mark Morey attempts the impossible with this attempt at a serious analysis of Big Brother.

» Survey Shows Majority Support for Unions

» Howard's Union Stooge in Hot Water

» Unions Cash in on Big Brother

» Big Boys Bully Over Della Compo Changes

» Where's WorkCover? Safety Prosecutions Drop Off

» Telstra's Ultimatum: Stay Away From Kim

» Workers Win Stake in New Bank

» Hours Test Case Gets Green Light

» St John of God Workers Pray for Justice

» Five-Star Action From Security Guards

» Howard Plans to Stop the Vote

» Rio Outrage Heads for Court

» Nurses To Fight For Pay

» One Hundred Reasons to Save Aussie Post

» Rail Track Sell-Off Part of Privatisation Push

» Coles Myer Abandons Regional Jobs

» Qld Wage Rise Still Not Enough

» Activists Notebook

» The Soapbox

» The Locker Room

» Trades Hall

» Tool Shed

» Problems with Hunter Decision

» A Lost Cause

» High Farce

Notice Board
- Check out the latest events

Latest Issue

View entire latest issue
- print all of the articles!

Previous Issues

Subject index

Search all issues

Workers Online - 2nd place Labourstart website of the year

LaborNET is a resource for the labour movement provided by the Labor Council of NSW

URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/103/news22_della.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005

[ Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Credits ]

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW