Yesterday essential workers from across the Tweed and Northern Rivers region gathered to oppose the NSW government’s proposed cuts to workers compensation, which would drastically limit mental health support for injured workers.
Local nurses, teachers, emergency service workers, and other essential workers came together at Chris Cunningham Park, Jack Evans Boat Harbour, Tweed Heads to share personal stories about workplace psychological injuries.
Across the Northern Rivers 97 per cent of workers have experienced psychological hazards at work and 63 per cent of Tweed frontline workers report being exposed to trauma and traumatic events.
‘The government’s approach completely misses the mark. Instead of preventing workplace injuries, these proposals will simply abandon workers when they’re at their most vulnerable,’ said Mark Morey, Secretary of Unions NSW.
‘This is putting budget spreadsheets before worker wellbeing. The government’s proposals include Australia’s harshest psychological injury threshold, requiring a 30 per cent Whole Person Impairment rating that would exclude 95 per cent of legitimate claims. Under this system, a psychologically injured worker who struggles to live independently, prepare meals, or work more than 20 hours weekly could be denied compensation.
‘A worker with a 22 per cent impairment might struggle to live independently, prepare meals, or maintain basic daily functions – yet would be cut off from support under these proposals,’ Morey said.
According to Unions NSW if the changes are rushed through by 1 July 2025 the NSW government’s proposed changes would:
Require traumatised workers to undertake legal proceedings before accessing compensation
Implement a 30 pe rcent Whole Person Impairment (WPI) threshold – Australia’s harshest – excluding 95 per cent of legitimate psychological injury claims
‘84 per cent of local workers believe the NSW government’s WPI changes will force injured workers to return to work before it is safe for them to do so,’ they said.
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