
Issue No 91		06 April 2001

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News

Cops Eye Ball Compo Changes

Police who risk their lives upholding the law, deserve that same law's protection when they are injured at work, the head of NSW police officers has warned the Carr Government.

Police Association president Ian Ball stole the show at the Labor Council's Workers Compensation forum at State Parliament, painting the picture of the human cost of policing the state.

Ball says he has colleagues totally ruined by what they have seen at work, young people forced to confront crime scenes, car accidents and child sexual assault cases.

"We have great kids walk into the police service - but many come out the other end broken people," Ball said.

Currently 700 police are on leave for psychological injuries - injuries that would receive restricted access under the Della Bosca proposals.

"And it's not just the cops," Ball said, "its the firefighters and ambulance officers as well."

He flagged Police support for any wider compensation campaign within the trade union movement. "If anyone thinks the cops of this state will allow bureaucrats to decide how injured they are, then they are sadly mistaken."

Carr Verbals Cops?

Meanwhile, the Premier is dragged into the Workers Compensation row this week when he came very close to misleading the parliament.

The State Opposition, to date conspicuous by its silence on the issue asked Carr a question about Police Association concerns that their members will be "left on the scrap heap".

In usual imperial style Carr brushed the question away saying the Police Association had written to the Police Minister admitting they were wrong.

But Carr went further, playing with the letter to caste the Police Association as honourable for admitting their mistakes - unlike the Opposition.

In fact, the Police Association letter withdrew one of four concerns, but reiterated its dismay and disgust at the package.

'Minor Injury' Victims Speak Out

A nurse whose live has been ruined by back pain and a young building who lost an eye at the age of 18 last night provided compelling evidence why there is nothing minor about 'minor injuries'.

The two were members of the Workers Compensation forum that was held at State parliament, replacing the weekly Labor Council meeting.

Workers who suffer injuries that are not classified as major injuries are the main losers under the Della Bosca plan to reform workers compensation.

Griffith nurse Denise ..... and building workers Mick Jones both gave moving accounts of the impact of so-called minor injuries on their lives.

Nursing Her Life

Denise injured her back in 1996 and since then has spent the past five years in and out of work of medical treatment and unable to move ahead in her career.

She has had no go form being a clinical nurse to registered nurse and is now on non-nursing duties. Apart from costing her about $500 per week, the injury has prevented her pursuing further studies because she can no longer concentrate.

"Nursing was my life, but this injury has taken away my staus in the workplace ... noone wants me - I'm an injured person."

The mother of three teenagers, Denise says the injury means she can't go on ;picnics, play sport, even attend her daughter's high school graduation ceremony. "The whole family life is now centred around my injury," she said.

Labour lawyer Richard Brennan said that Denise would have her access to compensation reduced by the Della Bosca package.

An Eye for an Eye

Losing your eye after it has been pierced by a roof nail is a horrendous experience. But young building worker Mike Jones told the forum how the accident had only been the start of his ordeal.

When Mike lost his ey, he also lost his sense of distance - a disability that meant he could not pursue his dream of being a building supervisor. Half-way through the course when the accident happened, Mike had to abandon his studies.

Mike moved to the hospitality industry but found it difficult because, without a depth of vision he had difficulty working in crowds. "I kept walking into drunks," he said.

"My injury was not called 'major' but it did have a major impact on my life," he said.

Luckily, Mike received a lump sum payment to help him plan a new life. But lawyers say someone in Mike's position will no longer be eligible to launch common law claims because they'll miss the 25 per cent all of body threshold.

Workers are the Voice

Labor Council will this weekend launch a delegates featuring some of the workers who have stood up in the workers compensation fight.

The stars of the video include crane driver Pat Portlock, who lost his leg and building worker Michael Jones, who lost an eye from a roof nail who have both come out in the media in support of injured workers.

In the video, they movingly tell their own story and call on the Carr Government to withdraw the legislation.

To get a copy of the video for your workplace contact Paul Howes at mailto:[email protected]

Who Bothered to Show?

As the briefing had been called to educate members of parliament about the changes, it good to see representatives of all political parties in attendance.

While there were a few spare seats in the area of the room dedicated to MPs, we had 41 MPs sign the guest book.

From the ALP the following MPs attended: Milton Oruopoulos, Kerry Hickey, Paul Lynch, Gerard Martin, Ian McManus, Peter Black, Barry Collier, Wayne Smith, Ian West, Paul Gibson, Bryce Gaudry, Alan Ashton, Matt Brown, Deirdre Grusovin, Amanda Fazio, Johno Johnson, Janelle Saffin, Meredith Burgmann, Joe Tripodi, Grant McBride , Ernie Page, John Hatzistergos, Peter Primrose, Reba Meagher, Graeme West, John Mills, Marie Andrews, John Murray and Jan Burnwoods gave her apologies as she was at ALP National Executive in Canberra.

The following Liberals attended: Greg Pearce, Malcolm Kerr, Brian Pezzutti, Brad Hazzard, Chris Hartcher, Mike Gallacher, John Ryan and Liz Kernohan - although Hartcher and Gallagher snuck off as soon as they had signed the book!

Don Page, National Party MP attended, as did both Greens MPs, Ian Cohen and Lee Rhianon and two independents Peter Breen and Clover Moore.

View entire issue - print all of the articles!

Issue 91 contents

Interview: Costa on Compo
Labor Councilďż˝s secretary gives his take on the Big Stink over Dellaďż˝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 ďż˝ Beyond the Headlines
Itďż˝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 wouldnďż˝t know the difference between throwing up, stuffing up, growing up or breaking up.

» Compo Wars: Week Two to the Workers!

» Doctors Donďż˝t Want to be Judges

» Cops Eye Ball Compo Changes

» Armoured Car Drivers To Consider Stop Work

» IT Workers ďż˝ We Need You!

» Banks Workers Show Theyďż˝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