NSW Premier Chris Minns is pushing for controversial workers compensation legislation that would raise the impairment threshold for psychological injury claims from 15% to 30%. He warns that failure to pass the bill would create a $2bn budget hole for the public service and lead to a 36% premium rise for private sector businesses. The opposition and various experts criticize the bill as 'unconscionable' and 'cruel,' arguing it would make claims virtually impossible.
Chris Minns warns of $2bn budget hole if bill curtailing psychological injury claims fails
New South Wales politicsNew South WalesChris MinnsAustraliaIndustrial relations
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️NSW Premier Chris Minns is pushing for controversial workers compensation legislation that would raise the impairment threshold for psychological injury claims from 15% to 30%. He warns that failure to pass the bill would create a $2bn budget hole for the public service and lead to a 36% premium rise for private sector businesses. The opposition and various experts criticize the bill as 'unconscionable' and 'cruel,' arguing it would make claims virtually impossible.
Trending- 1 Two days before: Minns indicated support for Shooters party's conservation hunting bill
- 2 Wednesday: Debate on workers compensation bill began in NSW upper house
- 3 Thursday: Opposition to move to send bill to inquiry; high-stakes vote expected
- 4 24 June: NSW budget to reveal full extent of Treasury Managed Fund deterioration
- Potential $2bn budget hole for NSW public service if bill fails
- 36% rise in private sector premiums if bill fails
- Psychological injury claims would become virtually impossible under the 30% threshold
- Cost shifting onto welfare and health systems
- Controversy over potential deals between Labor and crossbenchers on unrelated bills (e.g., conservation hunting, medical marijuana for motorists)
What: NSW Premier Chris Minns is advocating for a controversial bill to raise the impairment threshold for psychological injury claims in workers compensation from 15% to 30%. The opposition and various groups oppose this, arguing it will make claims impossible and shift costs.
When: Thursday (opposition to send bill to inquiry, high-stakes game plays out). Wednesday (debate began in upper house). Two days before (Minns indicated support for bounty scheme). 24 June (full extent of Treasury Managed Fund deterioration revealed in budget). 2013 (Game Council abolished).
Where: New South Wales (NSW), Australia.
Why: The government claims the changes are necessary to prevent a $2bn budget hole in the public service portion of the scheme and to avoid a 36% premium rise for private sector businesses. Opponents argue it's a cruel measure that will deny legitimate claims and shift costs to other systems.
How: The government is lobbying crossbenchers (Shooters and Fishers party, Mark Latham, Rod Roberts, Jeremy Buckingham, John Ruddick) for support. The opposition plans to send the bill to an inquiry and has offered alternative amendments.