"Workers, doctors and lawyers unite in calls for urgent reform to fix a system described as adversarial, outdated and unfair, writes Andrew Klein. The new workplace reality exposes systemic flaws The dramatic shift toward remote work in Australia has created a critical stress test for the nation's workers' compensation systems, revealing fundamental flaws in how workplace injuries are recognised, assessed and compensated."
"Traumatic injury fatalities: Australia recorded 188 worker fatalities in 2024, representing a rate of 1.3 deaths per 100,000 workers. While this reflects a 24% decrease since 2014, the rate has remained relatively steady in recent years. High-risk industries: The statistics reveal alarming concentrations of harm, with 80% of work-related traumatic injury fatalities occurring in just six industries: agriculture, forestry and fishing; public administration and safety; transport, postal and warehousing; manufacturing; health care and social assistance; and construction."
Remote work has blurred the boundary between home and workplace, exposing workers' compensation systems to new injury types and assessment challenges. In 2024, 188 workers died from traumatic injuries and 146,700 serious workers' compensation claims were lodged, revealing strain on existing processes. Home-office injuries, mental health conditions arising from isolation, and the limits of telehealth assessments create contradictions under current compensation rules. Systems remain adversarial, outdated and unfair for many claimants. High-risk industries still account for most traumatic fatalities, concentrating harm and highlighting gaps in protection. Urgent reform is required to modernize recognition, assessment and compensation.
Read at Independent Australia
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]