
Issue No 91		06 April 2001

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

News

Doctors Don’t Want to be Judges

Medical practitioners have sent the Industrial Relations Minister John Della Bosca a strong message that they do not want to be judge and jury for injured workers.

That was the reaction to the proposal to introduce binding medical panels, part of the controversial package of workers compensation reforms currently before the NSW Parliament.

Representatives of both the Australian Medical Association and the Australia Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons raised concerns at the Workers Compensation Forum held in State Parliament last night.

The AMA's Fiona Davis said the changes, which had pushed through without any consultation with the medical profession

And Stephen Millgate, representing physiotherapists said his members were highly skeptical about the introduction of binding medical panels.

"Three of our members were shot dead in the 19960s over a workers compensation claim. We do not want to see them in the same position again.

Millgate also raised concerns about the operation of the Motor Accident scheme, which will be the new WorkCover model. "None of our members are seeing anyone through the MAA scheme - people are just not being assessed," he said./

Direct Steal from MAA

Labour lawyer Richard Brennan demonstrated how close the Della compo plan was to the Motor Accident scheme by placing yellow tabs on pages that were a direct steal. There was more yellow than white.

At the same time, the Carr Government has been facing scrutiny in Parliament because the MAA reforms are not delivering the projected savings.

And as Labor Council secretary Michael Costa pointed out in conclusion, the American medical Assessment guidelines that will be the basis of the new scheme, carry a warning they should not be used in financial determinations.

"You have a new system of medical assessment for financial damages that explicitly says it should not be the basis for financial damages," Costa said.

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Issue 91 contents

Interview: Costa on Compo
Labor Council’s secretary gives his take on the Big Stink over Della’s workers compensation package.

Politics: Della's List
All Labor members of Parliament were this week asked to indicate whether they would support injured workers. More than half said 'yes'. Here they are.

Unions: Picketing Joy
Rowan Cahill chronicled the definitive dispute of 2000 for Workers Online. He looks back on the battle and the lessons to be drawn from the workers at Joy.

History: Vale Tony Mulvihill
The environment, migrant workers and the hairy nosed wombat have reason to be thankful for the active citizenship of Tony Mulvihill.

Economics: Stopping the Rot
A national campaign is underway to persuade politicians from both the major parties that they need to be addressing the issue of poverty within Australia.

International: East Timor – Beyond the Headlines
It’s now more than 18 months since the violence and bloodshed following the popular consultation on the future of East Timor was front page news in Australia.

Technology: Online Breathing Space
The global collapse of faith in new technology has given journalists a chance to prepare themselves for the real revolution, writes David Higgins

Satire: Howard Cuts Beer Price to Get Voters Drunk
Prime Minister John Howard has agreed to cut the excise on beer, in the hope cheaper drinks will help get the country drunk enough to vote for him.

Review: The Battle for 96.9Fm is Over
What would you get if you crossed 2DAY FM, 2MMM, JJJ and MIX 106.5 FM? A fairly commercial radio station that wouldn’t know the difference between throwing up, stuffing up, growing up or breaking up.

» Compo Wars: Week Two to the Workers!

» Doctors Don’t Want to be Judges

» Cops Eye Ball Compo Changes

» Armoured Car Drivers To Consider Stop Work

» IT Workers – We Need You!

» Banks Workers Show They’re No Bunnies

» English Teachers Ripped Off

» Beazley Gives Boost To Bakery Workers

» Employment, Environment Vital to US-Australia Trade Deal

» Extra $1.37 Billion Needed for Unis

» Campaigning Workshop Establishes Local Campaign Initiative

» Activist Notebook