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A forum for interaction about Workcover South Australia and the experiences of Injured Workers.
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Letters to the Editor
Lots of letters are written to the press and other sources and never get published.
Here is your chance to put your message across to the public. |
Posted: 9:20 AM, 1/6/2007 |
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The Workcover gravy train.
Dear Editor
I read with interest your piece in the Adelaide Advertiser on Thursday this week calling for Bruce Carter to resign from his position at the head of the WorkCover Gravy Train.
In your article you suggested it was Bruce Carter who saved Harris Scarfes, those in the know would contend that Bruce simply assumed control of a poorly managed company and promptly sold it to the management for a song and it was Robert Atkins and his management that “saved” Harris Scarfe.
You also suggested he saved the Adelaide 36ers. I would suggest that Bruce simply sold a taxpayer funded asset worth some $4 million to a lucky buyer for $2 million and the basketball licence to Mal Hemmerling for another $2 Million. Doing so he forced taxpayers to let go of some $8 million in debts.
The Wine Centre was a similar taxpayer funded fire sale to management with Bruce at the helm.
With WorkCover however, Bruce faced a different challenge. When he assumed control the Corporation was travelling nicely charging just over two percent levies with an unfunded liability of some 20 million dollars.
After 4 years pretending that he had control, he has finally been forced to admit that he has no idea what is going on and has submitted a proposal to the Government that not only fails to address the current near billion dollar liability but slashes the entitlements of those the scheme was set up to protect, the injured Workers. The problem here is a management buy out is not an option with Workcover so Bruce intends to make the intended beneficiaries pay for his incompetence.
The question should then be, why isn’t the Union up in arms? Because they too sit aboard the gravy train with Bruce.
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Posted by Matt R at 2:41 PM, 1/6/2007 |
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Jockeys on workcover
| Hot tip for the jockeys now you are covered by workers compensation, whatever you do, dont put in a claim. The odds are against you. The system is a one horse race and they have the reins. Come to think of it, if i was a betting man i would say the jockey would even fall of his horse before the race is even finished. |
Posted by Wendy.P at 4:19 PM, 1/6/2007 |
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A prayer for Workcover staff and EML employees
I pray for all the workers at Workcover and all the case managers at EML.
I pray that what goes around come around.
I pray that your children and Family be blessed with the same suffering and trauma I have experienced whilst on Workcover.
I pray that when you take the cup to drink, that you think of the blood that has been spilled of injured workers.
And when you eat the bread, you think of the bodies and injurys that have been suffered of the innocent workers.
And when you sit in silence think again of how you have failed to help the injured who are oppressed and unable to fight, for they are the ones who are needy in this world and who the system is failing.
I pray that those you treat unfairly in your daily walk will forgive you someday..cause sure as day is day and night is night there are many that know not how to forgive after being so unfairly treated for so long a time, I be one of them.
I pray that you and your children end up on Workcover and be traumatised by poor claims management year in year out.
May they never receive their true entitlements. And when your children want to end their suffering and redeem their entitlements I hope that their claims are settled unfairly with not a care for their injury and suffering.
I pray for Bruce and the board for they know not what they do.
I pray that they may have more understanding and insight into the lives and suffering of injured workers trapped on a system that cares little for the human lives it consumes.
I pray that the Board fix the system without regard to their own interests but in the interests of the employers and the injured workers.
Amen
P.S. I am not praying for a miracle, thats why I did not pray that the minister will fix the system. |
Posted by The Vicar at 10:53 PM, 1/6/2007 |
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WorkCover fails to understand its problem!
Craig Bildstein (Advertiser Friday May 25) reported claims by an injured worker that the only way WorkCover can address its financial liability is by complying with the Governing Legislation and offer reasonable redemptions to permanently incapacitated workers who, by WorkCover’s own account, make up 45 percent of the $2 Billion Liability. In their attempt to counter this assertion WorkCover issued a press release that not only supports the reported claim that it is WorkCover’s errant policy of not paying reasonable redemptions since 2000 that created the liability but highlights their lack of understanding of the challenges they currently face.
WorkCover’s press release reports that in 2005/06 there were 1386 redemptions paid amounting to $75 million representing an average redemption of just $54k or just over 1 years state average weekly earnings. If we compare these payments to average redemption payments made in 2000 of $110k representing just under 3 years average weekly earnings it is clear that in real terms redemptions offered have fallen by some 65 percent which in turn has left some 180 permanently injured workers annually with little choice but to remain on benefits.
It is worth noting that in 2000 the unfunded liability was just $20 million, the Corporation reported an operating profit of $7 million and the levy rate was 2.86 percent. Today the liability is nigh on a Billion dollars, the Corporation is losing $50 million annually, the levy rate is 3 percent and total claims have fallen by 12 percent.
Surely someone has to be accountable Bruce?
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Posted by Matt R. at 11:15 AM, 3/6/2007 |
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What Is The Human Cost?
Over the past several years we have watched the legislative process concerning workers compensation nothing has changed. Of course there is always mention of fraud and reducing legal costs and reducing payments to injured workers. Of course the fraud seems to be always committed by someone other than Workcover or the employer. Of course the answer to the problem is capping lawyer and medical help and further restricting the rights of injured workers. And of course there are no restrictions placed on lawyers while Workcover and its agents trample on the rights of those who can't afford to defend themselves.
And of course there are concerns about reasonable premiums and availability of comp coverage, especially for small businesses.
Where are the concerns about the humanity, justice, and well being of those injured and their families? Who is asking who will be willing to work in South Australia in the future? Who is asking what is the human cost of the workers compensation systems across Australia?
Every day millions of people innocently go to work and do their jobs. They will be most fortunate if they never have a serious work injury. They have control over their futures and the futures of their families. They have control over how many jobs they will work, where, and when. They have control over their financial destiny. They decide when they will retire or when they will not. They have years to plan their retirement funds. They have options for health insurance, life insurance, and disability insurance. They get to choose their own doctors and be an active participant in their health care.
Where are the options for those less fortunate? Where are the options for injured workers? What happened to the exchange made in the exclusive remedy for workers compensation victims? A change I might add that was never voted upon by the working people of Australia. A change that was forced on us by our elected officials. A change that was intended to do good things but as always politics has corrupted the noblest of intentions.
At first I really thought it was a lack of education on the part of our members of parliament to allow something that's intent was meant to be so good to go so wrong. To some degree it is a lack of understanding and wanting to face up to problems on our lawmakers part. However it is the job of those elected to office to educate themselves on issues most important to the people they represent. That means all the people. Not just those with money for campaign contributions.
How hard is it to really fix the workers compensation systems of Australia? I think a better question is who really wants to fix the workers compensation systems of Australia and at what human cost? The fixes to the comp system are simple. Instead of fixing the comp crisis once and for all across Australia, our elected officials put Band-Aids on the problems like moving around deck chairs on a sinking ship. They know their solutions are wrong. They even have trouble convincing themselves that their solutions are the right thing. They know they are responding to the pressures of their party and special interest groups while selling out the average citizen. Most politicians really want to do the right thing I believe, but they are stuck in seats on the front benches and their best interests are looked after and often funded by special interest groups such as unions. Believe me for every dollar special interest gives, special interest collects.
They know that they have done nothing to stop the crisis. They know that comp will be back in the legislature each and every year. They know that premiums will continue to climb while benefits decrease and while the rights of those affected decline. THey know the unfunded liability will only continue to multiply now it has hit the magic billion dollar mark. ( but it might take a few years to reach 2 Billion, by that time it will be someone elses problem). They continually pass the buck hoping that they won't have to really address the issue during their term in office. Let the problem fall to the next guy. It is an unpopular subject to deal with after all.
So while all of this is going on what is the human cost? Who suffers in the meantime? Is it just the injured worker? Of course not. It all starts out with a person going to work just like any other day. Then something tragic happens and the person is unfortunate and sustains a serious injury as opposed to one that only needs little medical treatment.
Thus the nightmare begins. The injured employee is sent to a comp specialist who assures him/her that everything is okay. Believing that doctors know what they are talking about and not knowing the hold the insurance carriers have over the comp system the injured worker innocently believes the doctor. He/she returns to work or rests at home believing he/she has only sustained a minor injury.
But then weeks go on and the pain is still there. His/her family becomes frustrated because there is nothing they can do to help him/her. The carrier starts sending you on an IME merry-go-round. Still the injured worker believes he/she is in good hands and the health problems will be taken care of. Then comes the denials of the medical treatments ordered by the doctors the carriers chose for the injured worker.
Then comes the rumors from work. Your coworkers are no longer allowed to talk to you if they want to keep their jobs. Suddenly you start hearing that you are a fraud or you are a malingerer exaggerating your injury. Then you start noticing an unusual car parked outside and hearing from your neighbors that a private investigator is going around talking with your neighbors and insinuating that you are being investigated for comp fraud. Your children become scared because they don't know who is watching them and following them to school as well as following you and your family any where you may decide to go.
Then comes the letter saying you have been fired from your job on trumped up charges or that the company has downsized and unfortunately your position has been eliminated. This is where all injured workers begin to become aware of the hell of a life they have been thrown into as a result of their work injury.
As time goes by you are not getting the needed medical care so you go to the Centrelink office for assistance. In some cases they are helpful. Most injured workers never even think of getting a lawyer until they are caught between a rock and a hard place. "Who would have thought I would need an lawyer to get benefits the laws say I am entitled to," they often say to me.
Then after exhausting all other avenues the injured worker decides to hire a lawyer if he/she can find one to take the case. It normally takes an injured worker approximately one year before considering hiring a lawyer. There just are no other options available to the injured worker because the state does not enforce the law against Workcover when it breaches its own act.
The injured worker is already feeling insecure and lazy for not being able to work and provide for his/her family. He/she is bored to death because he/she has been working all of his/her life and even though the pain is intense and the medications cause him/her to sleep he/she still feels he/she ought to be out doing something.
After hiring a lawyer he/she finds out that this injury is more serious than first thought. He/she is going to be out of work either temporarily or permanently. The ironic thing is the doctor said if he/she had received the prescribed treatment at an earlier date that he/she would already be back to work.
Unknown to the injured worker at this time, the battle has just begun. He/she is in for the fight of his/her life. The family is tired of him/her being sick all the time and the moodiness he/she displays out of frustration in the comp system. The children and sometimes the spouse don't understand why mommy or daddy are no fun anymore. They can't understand why there is never any extra money. Why they can't sit on mommy or daddy's lap anymore. Why can't they go to the doctor when they are sick and why does the electric, water and phones keep getting cut off? Why is there never any food in the house and what has changed so much that there is never enough to eat?
Mommy or daddy always seem so very worried and definitely short tempered. Sometimes he/she never even gets out of bed each day. Mommy and daddy fight all the time. Why can't the doctor just make it all better? The injured worker has become so depressed by his/her treatment in the comp system that he/she begins to lose his/her self esteem. He/she wonders which is worse, the workers compensation system or the initial injury. He/she actually wonders if the family wouldn't be better off without him/her.
Between the pain and depression its not hard to think of suicide as the only way out of this awful mess.
Then there is the acceptance thing. It is so hard to accept a permanent disability. The injured workers whole future is now shot leaving him/her to the mercy of the workers compensation system for the rest of his/her life and it has been a very adversarial system to live in so far. Could it always be this bad? How will he/she fill the hole left in his/her gut by the reality of his/her injury? I mean who wants to be nonproductive? Who wants to wake up each day and watch the world go by leaving him/her behind? Somehow the void has to be filled but with what?
He/she can't consistently do anything because he/she has no idea which day will be a good day and which one will be bad. He/she has doctors appointments to go to and he/she tires so much easier than he/she used to. When the pain is bad the meds he/she is on makes him/her sleep all the time.
All of these things wear on the family. Divorces often follow. The spouse and the children are often either on Social Security. No other insurance is affordable and it is now considered a luxury as opposed to a necessity.
The kids are hungry, need new clothes, and need to go to the dentist. Who will be paying for all of that or is that just one of the hidden human costs? The injured worker is so stressed that he/she cannot provide the necessities for his/her family and he/she has no idea how to make things better. He/she draws closer to a nervous breakdown with the draw of each breath.
The older kids drop out of school to help provide for their family. The younger ones just plain don't understand why everything is so different. By now all the money that he/she has saved is gone and he/she is one step closer to homelessness. He/she has already sold everything of any value. Where do I go from here? A week later he/she is now living on the streets compliments of an on the job injury and the comp system. Still a conciliation conference and court date has not been set. It can take years to get to a final hearing in the workers compensation system.
The family has not only fallen apart but has also fallen into poverty and homelessness. Workcover is still jerking him/her around with no relief to his/her harassment in sight. The injured worker still has never gotten the prescribed treatment by his/her doctor. The injury is much worse, if not life threatening, and will cost three times more for treatment than it would have had it been treated promptly. The saddest part of this whole thing is that there are laws in place to stop this kind of human suffering. Unfortunately they are rarely, if ever, enforced.
So again I ask at what human cost? How long will our ministers and the board allow this kind of suffering to go on? How long will society itself allow this to go on? There are ways to fix this problem but no one seems to be willing to do that because it is not what the special interest groups want. Once again I ask WHAT IS THE HUMAN COST? When will the injured workers become the true priority of the comp system? The people it was designed for. When will human life be more important than the almighty insurance dollar? |
Posted by Lost on the system at 10:13 PM, 9/6/2007 |
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unable to return to pre-injury work ADVISE NEEDED
Just been told crushed foot not going to get any better. Half offered different position not what I want do i have except ? lots of questions like these were do I go.
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Posted by Jimmy S.A. at 7:34 PM, 22/7/2007 |
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Where is an injured workers privacy?
Dear Sir
I have a question regarding the exercise of Workcovers powers of section 110 of the Workers Compensation Act.
Section 110 of the act is at times used by Workcover to seize banking records of injured workers and others.
It is a most serious invasion of a persons privacy and is an exercise of a strong power by an officer of workcover.
The officers of workcover using the pwoers of section 110 of the act are certainly not judicial officers.
The evidence act seems somewhat inconsistent in its approach to the obtaining and use of banking records in criminal matters.
EVIDENCE ACT 1929 - SECT 50
50-Bank not compellable to produce records except under order
A bank or officer of a bank shall not in any legal proceeding to which the
bank is not a party be compellable-
(a) to produce any banking record, the contents of which
can be proved under this Act; or
(b) to appear as a witness to prove the matters,
transactions, and accounts recorded in a banking record,
unless by order of a judge made for special cause.
Can you please advise why the evidence act only allows a judge to issue a subpoena for such records in cases where a bank is involved in a legal proceeding, I also note that the subpoena would only be issued after the judge has heard evidence on whether the issue of a subpeona is warranted in the case.
Then it also allows for the parties to argue whether the evidence once in court should be inspected and copied.
The workcover act simply allows an officer of workcover to exercise stronger powers with no right of review or restriction and seize anyones bank records simply because they want them to have a look at.
There are unfortunately no pre requisites that workcover should even have a suspicion of an offence before they can seize bank records and obviously there are no checks on the use of the powers in many instances with no written requests.
There is no right of complaint under the Federal Privacy Act as Workcover is a state organisation and the banks simply state that they were compelled to do it.
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Posted by Not using a bank anymore at 4:51 PM, 24/8/2007 |
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sounds familair
21 June, 2001
The Editor
Bendigo Advertiser
PO Box 61
Bendigo Vic 3550
Dear Editor
WorkCover Minister Bob Cameron is still continuing to accuse everyone except himself over the impact of his WorkCover premium increases (Advertiser 21 June).
A few weeks ago he was disputing the Auditor-General's findings. Now he is attacking an all-party Parliamentary inquiry.
Has the Minister forgotten the evidence given in Bendigo by employers such as Pacific Textiles, Blackforest Timbers, Colonial Leather and Rositas, who told of premium rate increases which have forced deferral of expansion plans and put future employment at risk?
Not even the Labor members of the Parliamentary inquiry disputed many of its key findings, including that over one third of all Victorian employers received a premium rate increase of more than 39 per cent, that only 18 per cent of employers received a reduction and that employers received neither sufficient nor timely information about the changes.
If it had not been for this inquiry, would the Government have admitted to Victorians that the Minister put his 17 per cent increase on top of all other increases, or that the rules were changed without publicity to increase rates for many industries?
Would the Minister have confessed that he was wrong in his claims in Parliament about the number of employers receiving premium reductions, or that the WorkCover Authority's claims about premium increases were "selective" and "less than forthright"?
The Minister should stop refusing to accept the truth and start focussing on the need to get the costs of his so-called common law system under control. If he does not, this year's premium increases will just be a first instalment of many more premium increases to come.
Yours sincerely
Robert Clark MP
Shadow Minister for WorkCover.
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Posted by Robert Clark MP at 8:33 PM, 7/12/2007 |
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Untitled Comment
| ;jpjpj |
Posted by Anonymous at 8:38 PM, 21/12/2007 |
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David Ridgeway
| http://www.davidridgway.com.au/CorruptionWatch.asp |
Posted by Anonymous at 2:12 PM, 23/12/2007 |
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Employers/Christmas
I receive an invitation to my ex employers xmas part every year, even though I had my injury some 6 years ago. At one stage due to surgery i was unable to attend so he sent me a gift voucher of $100 so I wouldnt miss out.
Employers are also not happy with the way WorkCover are abusing the system, its just that Business SA has their CEO on the WorkCover board. |
Posted by DavidR at 6:24 PM, 23/12/2007 |
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A Pascoe
I am a bit bewildered on the current WorkCover situation and its financial position, as I
understand a review is in place due to the fact that The State Government, WorkCover Board
and some large business organizations are calling for a reduction in injured workers
entitlements due to the magnitude of an unfunded liability from the current yearly report
ofsome $850 million, which in turn causes businesses in south Australia to be charged higher
in WorkCover levies.
I am getting some mixed messages on what the actual financial positio this corporation seems
to be trying to portray. Back in 2003 a prominent footballer won a Supreme Court case that
opens they way for sportspeople injured during the 90s to make claims, WorkCover at the time
stated this case would not put WorkCover under financial pressure, as it has more than $600
million available for payouts.
A recent comment in an opinion published by The Advertiser on the 22/12/07 stated this nest
egg has now reached $1.5 billion. It would be a tragedy that as a small business owner I
have been excessively
charged and injured workers would lose out on fair compensation in redemption entitlements.
They might be showing a credit card debit that might be reaching its maximum but are failing
to show its huge savings account. A practise that is used illegally on a daily basis when
one applies for unemployment benefits!
Andrew Pascoe
Port Lincoln
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Posted by Advertioser at 10:13 PM, 24/12/2007 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23019490-37562,00.html
I am not surprised that small businesses in SA has lost faith in government support. WorkCover which is a Government agency continue to have one of the highest levies in Australia and in the meantime has a huge asset which fails to not only acknowledge it but release funds to redeem long term injured workers. In releasing these funds this would ease the pressure of the unfunded liability and reduce WorkCover levies from small businessses. On continuing to blame the magnitude of the unfunded liability and reduce injured workers entitlements will only cause more hardships between business owners and employees.
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Posted by bass at 4:53 PM, 13/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23041710-5006343,00.html
What a brilliant commercial and a brilliant show and of course wonderful free to air coverage for Foxtel! It is a pity that our Politicians think this is a matter that deserves attention yet when we try to address real challenges, like the WorkCover one wayne speaks of herein, the politicians go mute! Get with the programme guys!
Whats wrong with what the rest of the world is thinking. Not only are we the serial killer capital of Australia, we are the White Collar crime city of Australia as well. Von Eiman has the list but unfortunately these "family" members seem to be protected. I am unsure if Von Eiman wants to release the list or there are other elements who would prefer he doesnt. Oh and who is the prominent polly who wants to see him die in jail?
Afetr WorkCover changes the legislation that removes injured workers rights, Adelaide will become the Suicide capital of Australia.
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Posted by quite a few at 4:55 PM, 13/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23048650-2682,00.html
| The state must be trying to collect funds for all the Billion $$$ projects they have promised. Just have a look at the WorkCover situation where they are holding $2billion in asstes and only want to show its $800 million debt to reduce workers rights, this site should be an ideal example. |
Posted by Posted by: Lauren Tasker of Adelaide 9:18am today at 7:27 PM, 15/1/2008 |
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The Advertiser
| To comment Dissident of Rannistan 7:53pm Comment 84, the workcover "unfunded liability is around $850 million" please note it is not a current debt, only a future debt. In other words, if workCover was to clear the injured workers off its list this is how much it would cost. WorkCover have $2 Billion in assets it will not release, but prefer to keep these workers dangling while there are other elements of the industry profiting from the business levy. |
Posted by sean at 8:07 AM, 17/1/2008 |
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SA Premier Mike Rann to stay in politics until he's 65
To comment Dissident of Rannistan 7:53pm Comment 84, the workcover "unfunded liability is around $850 million" please note it is not a current debt, only a future debt. In other words, if workCover was to clear the injured workers off its list this is how much it would cost. WorkCover have $2 Billion in assets it will not release, but prefer to keep these workers dangling while there are other elements of the industry profiting from the business levy.
Posted by: Sean of Adelaide 7:17am today |
Posted by Adelaide Now at 3:12 PM, 17/1/2008 |
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Adelaide Online
| Did somebody forget to tell Mr Foley there is a huge shortage in skills in this state? Maybe we can train the 36,000 current injured workers on WorkCover to fill some of these positions this government is promising. Oh and another thing, the contractors who are building the Anzac Highway/South Road underpass are from VICTORIA! |
Posted by Sean at 5:09 PM, 17/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comments/0,22638,23062104-5006301,00.html
Why wasnt it public information that he was dismissed after he was reported to the anti corruption watch dog from a similar position in NSW before he was appointed to his current job? I think David Ridgeway just built up his arguement even more for an anti-corruption watchdog for SA. Could WorkCover be next?
Posted by: Sean of Adelaide 10:49am toda
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Posted by Adelaide Now at 9:03 PM, 17/1/2008 |
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Advertiser "All time high for SA jobs"
| There are more full time jobs created because as stated by WorkCover, there are 36,000 injured workers last year still on benefits and not working. Thats a lot of vacancies to fill, plus it would take that many WorkCover employees to manage all the claims. Shame on you injured workers! |
Posted by reader at 8:03 AM, 18/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23067267-2682,00.html
There are more full time jobs created because as stated by WorkCover, there are 36,000 injured workers last year still on benefits and not working. Thats a lot of vacancies to fill, plus it would take that many WorkCover employees to manage all the claims. Shame on you injured workers!
Posted by: Lauren Tasker of Adelaide 7:13am today |
Posted by me at 3:14 PM, 18/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comments/0,,23075805-5006301,00.html
| I have noticed looking at many shares on the ASX that some have gone as lowas 50% of their value of what they were a month or two ago.Given that Workcover invest their money I wonder if their unfunded liabilitycould now blowout to $2 billion with their investments now valued at muchless than they were a few months ago. |
Posted by Trudy Blake at 5:01 PM, 20/1/2008 |
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Adelaide Now
here is a search site for Adelaide Now, stories and comments.
http://searchresults.news.com.au/Search.action?site=ninews&masthead=adelaidenow&queryterm=workcover&searchoption=yes |
Posted by Reader at 12:43 PM, 21/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23081158-2682,00.html
Gee, hindsight is a wonderful thing. This is very hard to believe when most people are not back from their holidays yet. We are still waiting on the "WorkCover" review which was supposed to be released last november in relation to its unfunded debt. Hindsight is a funny thing. WorkCover said by appointing one sole agent it will reduce the debt: failed. WorkCover said by using one legal company will reduce the debt: failed. WorkCover appointed a new board (2003): failed WorkCover are going to remove workers entitlements ?????????
Posted by: James of Thebarton 12:09pm today |
Posted by Adelaide Now at 2:58 PM, 21/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,23071103-462,00.html?from=mostpop
Shares in freefall amid fears of a global downturn
I hope this means WorkCover SA will not totally go bankrupt with its assets invested in overseas markets. Luckily enough they have an insolvency specialist on the board as captain who will stay on the sinking ship.
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Posted by national reader at 6:04 PM, 21/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23116541-5006301,00.html
I agree with NPD that this is not the right time to discuss who is right ad wrong at this stage, especially from Robert Smissen from WorkPlace SA. For the families sake, why are you blaming workers before the investigation? As stated by WorkCover SA, there are 36,000 injured workers on the books. They are human and with families with feelings.
Posted by: Sam Bass of Adelaide 9:05am today |
Posted by Anonymous at 5:52 PM, 28/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23111532-5006301,00.html
To C Noevil of Adelaide 8:22pm, why do you say there will be no ICAC whilst Mike Rann is in office? John Bannon lost all credability from his mate Tim Marcus Clarke (scare face) from the state bank collapse, I am sure there are enough of mates in the WorkCover collapse that will just do the same.
Posted by: Sam Bass of Adelaide 9:12am today
We will never have an ICAC here while Mike Rann is in office. Same goes for Whistleblower protection. They all need to be kept in check and this government does it well. I remember there was a guy who was prosecuted for fraud after he blew the whistle on investigators following him overseas and spending $30000 on an investigator to film him for just 15 minutes? I wonder if he there really was something in them prosecuting him or whether it was just to silence him?
Posted by: C Noevil of Adelaide 8:22pm January 27, 2008
So politicians taking their mates on overseas trips, appointing them to cushie roles and handing them publicly funded contracts should be a red flag for questionable conduct? What about selling state assets for a fraction of their worth or losing a billion dollars of taxpayers money in 6 years with hardly a question asked? If we had an ICAC in South Australia there would certainly be a few questions asked!
Posted by: PhilM of Greenwith 9:55pm January 26, 2008
There is no curruption here because Mike Rann will not allow a commission to investigate one. I believe a WorkCover employee was found guilty of fraud recently, isnt that corruption?
Posted by: Laura Tasker of Fullarton 7:11pm January 26, 2008
Mike RANN said there is NO Corruption in Adelaide thats is why a Corruption and Crime Commission is not required here.Of the $4 billion extra per year this State GOVERMENT generates ,yet there is no money to fund public works ,I repeat there is NO Corruption
Posted by: E. R of Adelaide 11:36am January 26, 2008
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Posted by Anonymous at 5:56 PM, 28/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23107387-2682,00.html
WorkCover are going to reduce future injured workers entitlements and legal rights as stated by the minister Michael Wright. Then we will see strike action like never before, not because the change has to be made but the reason behind the excuse they have made to reduce such rights.
Posted by: Laura Tasker of Fullarton 7:14pm January 26, 2008 |
Posted by Anonymous at 5:58 PM, 28/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23110667-5006301,00.html
They should have a group recipients of Australia Day honours, the WorkCover board headed by Bruce Carter should have got a mention to their work towards injured workers.
Posted by: San Bass of Adelaide 9:00am today
Why wasnt Bruce Carter nominated for his work towards injured workers?
Posted by: Laura Tasker of Fullarton 6:57pm January 27, 2008
A pretty good list, but still too many careerists and business people. The list should be reserved for those whose lives embody genuine public service. Better now than 10 years ago, but still too few local benefactors.
Posted by: Neil Jackson of 10:54am January 27, 2008
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Posted by Anonymous at 6:00 PM, 28/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comments/0,22638,23114996-2682,00.html
I think it is time for Mr Rann to set up an coruption commission as soon as possible as it seems more speculation keeps arising. Here is a great example, and where was safework SA and WorkCover SA? Union president Bill Jamieson this week said the CFS knew local brigades could not cope with a fire at the abattoir, but ignored official warnings. He said the bungle had been covered up and he demanded an inquiry into the matter. He claimed the union had "reliable sources" who said an internal CFS report was prepared before the blaze, instructing CFS hierarchy that a fire at the abattoir would be beyond the capabilities of local volunteers. "It was a bungle," Mr Jamieson said. "Allegedly a risk management assessment of Primo Meats had been conducted . . . and was ignored. "However, information won't come through whistleblowers or even an FoI (Freedom of Information) application. "An independent inquiry is needed otherwise the mistakes of Port Wakefield will remain covered up and the emergency service won't be forced to change." Come on Mr Rann, listen to the Hon David Ridgway and set up a committee
Posted by: Laura Tasker of Fullarton 9:17pm January 26, 2008
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Posted by Anonymous at 6:02 PM, 28/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23127876-5006301,00.html
To everyone on here that is supporting Tait's problem shows that they care, to all the knockers out there I just hope one day you do not get to suffer depression, anxiety or a nervous breakdown because not only do you have to deal with your feelings, you have to deal with the doubters with no idea what so ever.
Posted by: Julia of EML |
Posted by Julia D at 1:28 PM, 30/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comments/0,22638,23131815-5006301,00.html
Mr Rann, your off the cuff comment about pre season football and the the serious side to this story has shown that you are a joke and it has to be taken more seriously. There are a lot of businesses and workers suffering from decisions such as WorkCover that will not win you votes but more importanly as stated by SA Great and Business SA spokespeople that not only are we idle but wrong decisions are being made.
Posted by: Joan of Fullarton 9:31am today
Comment 367 of 393
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Posted by reader at 12:21 PM, 31/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23126702-5003680,00.html
EVIDENCE stored on computers and other electronic devices is being damaged or destroyed by ignorant staff and investigators.
One of the ``handful'' of people in SA equipped to retrieve digital evidence, Jean Pierre du Plessis from forensic service provider Ferrier Hodgson said it was a problem. ``People are not educated,'' he said.
``You only need one person to switch the computer on and do the wrong thing to change the evidence or destroy it completely.
``There are certain methodologies you must follow to be able to stand up in court.''
In a recent commercial case, an ``IT guy'' logged on to the computer and downloaded software before handing the machine over.
``That evidence was tainted in so many ways,'' Mr du Plessis said. Another tried to disable a user account but had deleted it.
UniSA researcher Dr Benjamin Turnbull said police without digital forensics expertise often collected and secured evidence for criminal cases using guidelines that were five years old.
Head of UK firm Forensic Pathways, Dr Richard Leary, said there was work to be done to train people here to collect and preserve digital evidence.
``It's not a question of catching up, it's a case of getting ahead,'' Dr Leary said. ``Even if you just keep pace on the digital front then Australia will continue to lag behind.''
Opinions
Do you need a warrant to inspect ones computer?
Posted by: Julia of Fullarton 7:58am today.
How ironic Jean Pierre du Plessis from forensic service provider Ferrier Hodgson works for a company whose director is a head of the WorkCover Board? Has anybody seen WorkCovers figures of late?
Posted by: Joan of Fullarton 7:44pm January 29, 2008 |
Posted by reader at 12:24 PM, 31/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23134333-2682,00.html
I am on WorkCover, and do you think I can get any medical specialist to see me. When I tried to make an appointment, I was told up front they do not treat Injured Workers. I can only imagine it is not because they do not care but there is too much influence from the WorkCover lawyers. Surely the AMA can stop this harrassment.
Posted by: Joan of Fullarton 11:42am today |
Posted by meegan at 5:19 PM, 31/1/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comments/0,22638,23147591-2682,00.html
I have a work related injury and because of being a claimant of WorkCover, i can not even get a private specialist to treat me. All the specialist wants to do is care for the patient and help them back to good health again. But they simply refuse because they are so much influenced by WorkCover case managers, so called rehabilitation and lawyers. This is also something the AMA should look into as I feel discriminated against.
Posted by: Joan of WorkCover 8:46am today
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Posted by reader at 6:41 PM, 2/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23142280-2682,00.html
I do not really care if any money is made from the sales of the book if it is written. But I do hope he does write a book because it would surley be a best seller. A movie can also be made, Bruce Carter from the WorkCover board could play David Hicks, they look alike and kevin Foley can play Terry Hicks, although that role should go to Patrick Conlon as Terry has more Rail Way line wrinkles.
Posted by: sam bass of Adelaide 8:35am today |
Posted by reader at 6:53 PM, 2/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/comments/0,22058,23145636-5001021,00.html
Insurance company's have strategies in place to collect their premiums. They also run a tight ship when rejecting claims from thousands of policy holders each year on technicalities. They had a lobby strong enough to persuade the NSW government under Carr to cut fair benefits to workers injured under workcover, make it impossible for local sport or community groups to hold events, councils to rip out public playgrounds because of insurance costs and the list goes on and on. Please remember this was happening when this "self regulating" industry was going belly. Remember HIH and it jailbird bosses taking out HIH Casualty Insurance Limited, FAI , CIC Insurance Limited, World Marine and General Insurances Limited (WMG) and more. Stern words and public shaming have no effect on an industry that has no shame.
Posted by: Terence of NSW 5:31am today
Comment 1 of 14
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Posted by Premier Morris Iemma at 10:21 AM, 3/2/2008 |
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mouthing cliches from the past or present
Although Mr Brumby was mouthing cliches from the past, from the era of the State Bank collapse, we still have a current Workcover debt situation that has escalated since the Labor Governementt which ceased fairly reediming injured in 200 so some of the agents and providers can still profit from the multi million $$$ Workcover have in assets.
Posted by: Joan of Fullarton 11:46am today
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Posted by Mr Brumby at 3:39 PM, 3/2/2008 |
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Dont you just hate being harrassed?
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comments/0,22638,23150138-2682,00.html
He goes up to females and asks if he can have 5 minutes of your time to do a survey in regards to your heart, he then eventually asks if he can put his hand on your chest to feel your heart beat. Please donÂżt even stop for this man!!! He is a serial pest and a weirdo! He used to follow girls home from my highschool around 5 years ago so I know what he can be like. I was walking back to the office a few weeks ago and he actually followed me ( I didnÂżt hear him behind me because I had my Ipod in my ears) all the way from Pirie Street to the office and tried to get in the lift with me. After I started pressing the closed button and the doors were hitting his chair he slowly reversed. Please donÂżt stop because you feel sorry for him!!
Posted by: Jessica Hicks of Employers Mutual 9:43am today
Comment 14 of 23
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Posted by Where have you wheelie bin? at 8:23 PM, 3/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23147616-2682,00.html
That would be just fine if the new WorkCover legislation comes in that injured workers will not receive entitlements before the claim is accepted. Now with the shortage of pathologist etc. it will even take longer to have an injury diagnosed and claim accepted.
Posted by: Jessica Hicks of Adelaide 7:47pm February 03, 2008 |
Posted by Jess at 10:12 AM, 4/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23160429-910,00.html
Workers better start taking stress leave, to have such an uncertain future would be devastating. Lucky you have an ex General manager in Tom Phillips on the workCover Board now to look after you.
Posted by: Jess Hicks of Adelaide |
Posted by reader at 10:28 AM, 5/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23159547-2682,00.html
Welcome to WorkCover MFS, Correctional Services and Families and Communities services. Your employer in the state governement are about to remove your sickness rights in a new legislation which they are trying to introduce in a few months time. There are a lot of other industries as in manufacturing, education, nursing and that will have the same effect. The future does look gloomy when with low morale already being experienced.
Posted by: Rosemary of Adelaide |
Posted by reader at 10:29 AM, 5/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comments/0,22638,23160533-5006301,00.html
Welcome to WorkCover http://www.blognow.com.au/workcover/ Education. Correctional Services and Families and Communities services. Your employer in the state governement are about to remove your sickness rights in a new legislation which they are trying to introduce in a few months time. There are a lot of other industries as in manufacturing, MFS, nursing and that will have the same effect. The future does look gloomy when with low morale already being experienced.
Posted by: Rosemary of Adelaide 9:29am today
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Posted by reader at 4:08 PM, 5/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23156998-5006301,00.html
I work at Workcover and i see these signs all the time, unfortunately being in an insurance environement it is too late to act as its the lawyers and not the Doctors who distinguish whether one has depression. A warning sign is different from a risk factor. Risk factors may increase the probability that a problem will occur, while a warning sign may indicate that a problem has already begun. While it is difficult to predict who will be at risk of suicide, there are some signs which may indicate that a person is thinking about ending their own life.
Posted by: Rosemary of WorkCover 3:30pm today |
Posted by reader at 12:31 PM, 6/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23160429-910,00.html
For every 1000 workers retrenched at mitsubishi, there are another 5000 who will suffer as suppliers. Are these workers going to get the same support as well? Dont expect the same retraining WorkCover delivers, unless you can perform as a monkey in a circus because thats how vocational companies treat you.
Posted by: Joseph of Adelaide 5:34pm February 05, 2008 |
Posted by reader at 5:03 PM, 6/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comments/0,22638,23166906-5006336,00.html
Ha, joseph of adelaide. You got it in one. Another portfolio where you just sit back and rack in the big dollars and perks and do NOTHING just like the water portfolio. Dream on nick, build low rental properties so people can save money for a deposit for a house, rann will have a fit if he actually done something for any of us. Hell the federal government rant their doing their job by inventing a savings system for " the average aussie " so they can save a deposit for a house. LETS GET REAL, after five years of saving $300 A WEEK ! ! ! . Yes thats after ALL your expenses, they STILL expect you to be able to save $300 A WEEK so in five years you will be $14000 better off. DOPEY IDIOTS tell me their not aware of the fact in 5 years houses will be $14000 dearer. ANOTHER sham just to deflect you from the fact they got NO idea what their doing.
Posted by: joe blow of adelaide 3:33pm today
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Posted by reader at 5:09 PM, 6/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23174908-5006301,00.html
I hope this does not effect the reputations of Doctors in South Australia. I have a debilitating disease caused by my employment and many Doctors have treated me. I do find though that when i dont mention this is a WorkCover claim i get the upmost care. I pay for my consultations myself and put in a claim. there are so many GPs and Specialist that dedicate their work and should be recognised in some way.
Posted by: Stephen of Strathalbyn 5:38pm February 07, 2008 |
Posted by reader at 6:09 PM, 8/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23192430-2682,00.html
"On The Run" businesses must have a lot of stress related workers with all these robberies. Can you imagine how many of their workers are on WorkCover and how high their levies would be?
Posted by: Anthony Fleetwood of WorkCover 3:15pm today |
Posted by reader at 7:35 PM, 11/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23191686-2682,00.html
Workcover might be next in line with the Statutory Authorities Review Committee review investigation into WorkCovers operations.
Posted by: Bruce Carter of Victoria Avenue, Unley Park 7:25pm February 11, 2008 |
Posted by reader at 12:44 PM, 12/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23192711-2682,00.html
I hope the unions are going to offer this much help when the injured workers from Workcover are stripped from their rights and entitlements.
Posted by: Bruce Carter of Victoria Avenue, Unley Park 7:17pm February 11, 2008 |
Posted by reader at 12:45 PM, 12/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23193364-5006301,00.html
Thommo of Adelaide, I would doubt if there would be any DNA on the spent cartridges. Of course the bikies will be blamed but remember the Government are trying to paint a bad picture of late.
Posted by: Anthony Fleetwood of WorkCover 6:45pm February 11, 2008 |
Posted by Reader at 12:51 PM, 12/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comments/0,22638,23196790-2682,00.html
To Steve Christos of Adelaide, what is the differance between severance and redemption? I believe both have the same meaning that the company is cutting ties by fairly paying out employees. In both companies cases, Mistubishi and WorkCover have enough money from overseas investments to satisfy such payouts. Its just ashame Injured workers have less of a probability to find work unlike Mitsubishi's.
Posted by: Andrew Pascoe of Burnside 12:17pm today
Comment 11 of 13
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Posted by Kym Fishlock at 5:26 PM, 12/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23210142-2682,00.html
I could not believe I saw a fox coming out of 100 Waymouth Street in the city, nobody noticed it. Everybody must have thought it was someones pet?
Posted by: Andrew of Burnside 7:31am today |
Posted by reader at 10:32 AM, 14/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23213103-2682,00.html
I wonder if the federal workplace ombudsman can prosecute workers and if so, there should be a causation that WorkCover also could come under investigation
Posted by: Andrew of Burnside 3:17pm today |
Posted by reader at 6:31 PM, 14/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23221908-2682,00.html
May I make a suggestion there would be a lot more applicants when the new WorkCover report is revealed. The case managers would have more experience in dealing with insurance compared with mitsuibishis workers haveing knowledge with spanners and screwdrivers.
Posted by: Andrew of Burnside 1:09pm today |
Posted by reader at 8:50 PM, 16/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comments/0,22638,23230249-5006336,00.html
THE State Government finally is about to tackle the daunting task of bringing WorkCover's ballooning unfunded liabilities under control.
The politically unpalatable exercise is long overdue. A new report shows WorkCover's unfunded liabilities have reached $849 million. Without urgent action they will soon top $1billion.
While these liabilities would never have to be paid at one time, they still constitute a debt to WorkCover and, indirectly, to the Government. A continuing blow-out of the liabilities will eventually become an issue for international rating agencies in assessing South Australia's AAA credit rating.
so big companies want to take more money of injured workers ok then the goverment should look at some of these companies work places so how did it happen ect ect i dont see any companies getting charged with neglect but the same injury happens day after day so these bosses should be find and jailed if it happens more than once even then once is to many times
Posted by: A J VICTOR HARBOR of 8:36am today
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Another fact for you as Editor to mull over, is that the Managers don't send all the files on the injured worker, only the file that suits them. When the injured worker sees their upteenth specialist, they have to ask where the rest of the files are. Another point is having to still pay all the bills and educate your children, pay your mortgage on less pay. Remember, the worker was doing his/her job for the employer when he/she was injured.
Posted by: Merilyn Williams of S.A. 2:34pm February 21, 2008
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What's with the T.V.add Workcover want to get you back to work? I've dealt with Workcover for the past 4 years and finally returned to work at my limit of 4 hours per day. Then Workcover and Employer decide they want to lower my wage even more than the 20per cent already lost. I wouldn't sign a new work contract under advisement,and I thought why should I be disadvantaged for the Employers bad work practices? So now I've been Terminated! How can that be? I've done my best to return to work,yet Workcover have taken my job..I'm in limbo at the moment not knowing what the future holds..Workcover want you back at work, at cut rates and No fault to the Employer whose work conditions got you there in the first place.
Posted by: Judy of Adelaide 2:11pm February 21, 2008
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The suggestion that the solution to WorkCover's problems are to reduce benefits to workers is absurd. The issues are clearly management issues. Outsourcing has been clearly a failure and a contributor to the blow-out. Rehabilitation is a joke. Structures to ensure market share of the big Rehabilitation Companies seem to be in place. Conflicts of interest of Board members, and a huge and growing bureaucracy, all contribute to the blow out. The solution? Of course! Cut benefits and leave the problems in place. Before outsourcing, what percentage of annual costs were "management"? What is this cost after outsourcing? Does the Advertiser actually know what "unfunded liability" actually means? It is a mythical figure based on the assumption that WorkCover gets no more income ever from NOW. The reality is that WorkCover gets more than it spends on an annual basis. The Reality is that WorkCover has over a $billion in real hard reserves in cash and investments. "Unfunded liability" is a actuarial guess based on unrealistic assumptions. The simple solution if people are nervous about it, is for WorkCover to insure against the liability ever being activated. Insurance companies insure against unforeseen disaster exceeding their reserves all the time, which is why we end up paying for damage by Cyclone Katrina.
Posted by: Atli Karl Freiherr Von Bansch of Aldgate 7:22am
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What a disgrace! Workcover is a private corporation entrusted to operate government legislation AND IT HAS FAILED in its duty of care to the people of SA, and that is ALL People, workers AND employers. It has mismanaged its overseas investments engaged in costly outsourceing to various insurance companies AND IT HAS FAILED under this governments watch. I would not trust Minister Michael Wright to mind my dog
Posted by: injuried of angry 5:19am February 21, 2008
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There are only two ways to reduce Workcovers liabilities? And the only one acceptable to the Advertiser is to reduce the payment to the injured worker? So even the person responsible for this disgusting editorial can understand I will point out in capitals that THERE IS NO BENEFIT TO BEING INJURED AT WORK! THE PAYMENT IS COMPENSATION FOR LOST EARNINGS. AFTER A PERIOD IF YOU ARE BADLY INJURED YOU ONLY GET 80% OF YOUR NORMAL WAGE WHILE SUFFERING PAIN AND DISCOMFORT. When the writer of this editorial decides to engage their brain they may find other ways to cut costs. These would include examining why Doctors charge more for Workcover claims. If they got paid promptly instead of waiting forever for payment they would be able to charge a more reasonable rate. If Workcover used proactive re-employment agencies to retrain and re-employ badly injured workers it would reduce the cost to them and the community of having people recovering who want to get back to productive work acheiving some degree of self respect again. If the adversary approach to dealing with workers were removed or revised substancial savings could be made.. I am sure if the editorial writer stops to think next time they can come up with even more ways to cut the costs of Workcover without punishing a worker for being injured often because of the employers lack of safety sytems.
Posted by: John Sturt of 8:08am February 20, 2008
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The government was told one year ago that it had to reduce benefits. What rubbish! In late 2003 when the new Board arrived it was informed with absolute clarity that the only way to fix the liability was either a reduction in benefits or an increase in premiums. The board elected to take the soft road then me thinks the government willt ake the soft road now!
Posted by: Mark Golder of Adelaide 6:52am February 20, 2008
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I'm so outraged I'm practically incoherent! The fastest way to reduce workers claims is to prevent workers from being injured. Hardly rocket science! I am having difficulty digesting the apparent fact that a LABOR government would sanction such an attack on already injured workers.
Posted by: LizzyLou of 12:08pm February 19, 2008
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WorkCover has been a disaster from Day 1 and it never improved its performance despite promises by management. Like elsewhere, it seems CEOs who have failed to deliver get a Golden Handshake and still work for the government, but ordinary workers like claims staff get the blame!
Posted by: Ray Hogan of 7:23pm February 18, 2008
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Shouldn't the cover workers injuries be a burden on employers. Surely the best way to reduce the liabilities is simply to reduce the occurance of injuries. To hit the employer who has a bad record on Health and Safety is the only real option. We must all remember, by reducing payouts, we may reach a situation where employers find it cheaper to injure their employers rather than take preventative actions to stop injuries. Compensation is a much a punishment to the employer for providing an unsafe workplace as it is a compensation. If employers must suffer a cost due to increased injuries, then they need to reduce these injuries, or pay the price!!
Posted by: Peter of 6:20pm February 18, 2008
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The Government should be very careful in making decisions that effect the people that they represent. Many of these workers that will be expected to maintain their lives after injury caused by employers workplace practices. There is a lot of talk about Occupational Health and Safety but in reality it does not happen as workers are pushed to quickly to use the devices made to stop injuries from happening.If the employers are so concerned about their levies rising, then do something to prevent injuries from happening.Prevention is the key, not penalising the injured!!!
Posted by: greg hodges of 4:36pm February 18, 2008
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There is a simple way for employers to reduce their workcover costs and the so called blowout, (it is an actuarial projection which has been likened to crystal ball gazing) stop injuring your workers and participate in the return to work programs.
Posted by: Hugh Callaway of Adelaide 12:45pm February 18, 2008
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correction to my comment the issue of WorkCover being private and public company is surrounded in smoke and mirrors, they enjoy both set of rules and the Courts of SA claim they are "a private company with a charter to administer a govt act" the question should be asked which are they, so that the rules can apply and not a revolving door situation we have now by saying we are both or neither.
Posted by: mark moore-mcquillan of 10:13am February 18, 2008
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it is little wonder that the WorkCover SA has a liability. The management and board have opted for high risk get rich investments and having 1.5 billion dollars invested in the high risk areas like sub-prime USA markets, only holds a gun to the heads of all South Australians when it fails. The fact is that WorkCover is a private company which has a charter to administer a SA govt Act. thus they have the benefits of a private company and public company. The board have said to the govt we need to make money for our shareholder and if you do not do as we have asked we will do nothing and yes that is the manipulation that WorkCover has done to all South Australain to the tune of 884 million (soon to be 1 billion dollars) . If it was a private company it would have failed and be placed in bankruptcy but as it has a hold on a public company these rules have been waived. The one main thing that is at the centre of this is that the WorkCover corp have not complied with the rules and regulation set by govt and now wants the govt to reward them for their failure. But the injured worker is the true victim as no matter what the govt or workcover do the injured are still injured suffering and being left to defend for themselves while the system that is there to assist them is more interested in making money and profits than to perform the job they were given the charter to administer. a fair go for all but the workcover system is in need of commonsense and less lawyers managers and corporate hopefuls.
Posted by: Mark Moore-McQuillan of morphett vale 9:43am
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Posted by reader at 2:27 PM, 23/2/2008 |
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http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23230249-5006336,00.html
The WorkCover Advertisements are targeting people who have no connection with WorkCover, It is a ploy to grab points when the bomb shell hits. They have to concentrate on using the Act as it is there for and that is Rehabilitation and Compensation, not profit and liability by mis-management.
Posted by: Andrew Pascoe of Burnside 1:31pm today |
Posted by reader at 7:13 PM, 23/2/2008 |
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Mike Rann 'shamed' over WorkCover by own party
PREMIER Mike Rann today suffered an extraordinary attack from Labor faithful over the Government's controversial WorkCover laws.
In an unprecedented embarrassment for the Government, part of the 200-strong crowd at party's annual convention rose for a standing ovation during a fiery speech condemning the legislation.
The convention then unanimously censured the Rann Government for slashing workers entitlements through its WorkCover reforms and for refusing to listen to the trade union movement.
The condemnation was led by Australian Workers Union secretary Wayne Hanson who delivered a stinging speech against Labor MPs for "trashing" the traditional Labor values leading to cries of "shame" from the floor.
It came as union delegates, members of the party sub-branches and parliamentary wing rejected a plea by former Labor MP Ralph Clarke to rejoin the ALP.
As Mr Hanson moved the union-backed motion he said he spoke "not in a tone of anger, but more to say what needs to be said".
"Comrades the content of this bill is s–––, comrades this s––– has got to stop," he told delegates gathered at the German Club.
"We need to tell our Labor politicians that what they did was wrong, we need to tell the community that the industrial movement is poles apart with Parliamentary Labor on this issue.
"We need to tell Labor politicians that we expect to retain their genuine Labor values not trash them.
"It is my hope above all hope that every single delegate to this convention will stand shoulder to shoulder and side by side with the workers and support his censure motion."
His speech – watched by MPs including former Industrial Relations Minister Michael Wright who oversaw the reforms – brought a rousing applause and a standing ovation.
Mr Rann, sitting behind Mr Hanson, appeared to shift uneasily in his seat, as the union stalwart took aim at the Premier accusing him of going back on his word to protect injured workers rights.
Under the reforms injured workers entitlements have been cut in a bid to rein in WorkCover's $1billion unfunded liability.
Mr Hanson's passionate speech came just moments after Mr Rann said he was committed to the interests of workers and was not prepared to "stand by and preside" over the slow and inevitable demise of WorkCover.
"I was not prepared to stand by and watch the cost of the scheme grow thereby reducing the state's competitive advantage – maintaining the status quo was not an option," he said.
After the meeting Mr Hanson said the Rann Government had denied the union on two separate occasions to debate the legislation.
"I think that it's time our Labor politicians recognised that if they want to be in accord with the general Labor populous then they've got to consider the trade unions and they can't continue with arrogance," he said.
Labor West Torrens MP Tom Koutsantonis who supported the WorkCover changes said the censure motion now meant the party could move on.
"We've had the debate, we've had the argument and now we can move on," he said.
Comments...............
BJ needs to go back in time a couple of years to see that the Liberal's reform proposals for WorkCover were much less draconian than his "hardworking Rann government"'s.
Posted by: Dissident of Rannistan 2:07pm today
Comment 24 of 24
THE Mega Phone,Little Kev,Postman Pat,and Mr wrong and the rest of the cabinet are not interested in the working class,so bang goes Work Cover.All they want is their pensions when they leave the party.
Posted by: John Brook of Tailem Bend 12:48pm today
Comment 23 of 24
"We've had the debate, we've had the argument and now we can move on," Guess that means like everything else over the past 10 years the state labor government will now ignor the issue and move onto a good news story, a rain water tank installed at parliment house or a new blackboard and crayons for a local school perhaps??????
Posted by: Tony of Exeter 6:02am today
Comment 22 of 24
Where were the Unions when the first public forum into WorkCover was held? Where were the Unions when the next seven public forums were held? Where is the Union support for the one person injured workers turn to? Where is the Union support for the non-labour policticans who mounted a very good fight to prevent this criminal legislation going through? It was Work Injured Resource Connection who ran the public forums. It was Kris Hanna who lead the Parliamentary fight. All I can say to the Union delegates is what you have done is far too little and far too late. I censure each of you as inept leaders of the working community of South Australia.
Posted by: Censure motion of 9:19am August 17, 2008
Comment 21 of 24
Rann , Foley, and Wright deserve every bit of the attack as they have totally betrayed their stated principles by crawling into bed with big business. The fact is that worcover could have been fixed without one change to benefits. The problem was ADMINISTRATIVE and ACCOUNTABILITY and COMPETENCE based with a strong dose of some dodgy deals to wash it all down. NONE of that has changed! So guess what? I suspect that in another 5 years the workers will be in for another bashing. It is time for them to wake up to themselves, and admit they got it wrong, repeal the amendments, and get it right before it is too late.
Posted by: Atli Freiherr Von Bansch of Aldgate 8:56am August 17, 2008
Comment 20 of 24
My hope for MP Tom Koutsantonis is that he will never know what it is like to be destroyed or watch a family member destroyed by the WorkCover system. My next hope is that MP Tom Koutsantonis does not intend to stand at the 2010 election, because enough of us will remember you voted for the changes to the legislation that took food out of the mouths of our children.
Posted by: West Torrens of 8:38am August 17, 2008
Comment 19 of 24
what needs to be done is simple. sack the WorkCover Board, sack Julia Davison, sack Micheal Wright, sack Mike Rann. hold an open investigation into the way that EML were given the sole claims agency for SA. hold an open investigation into the way Mintor Ellison were given the legal contract for WorkCover. my advice to Paul Caica today or no later than noon tomorrow phone Keith Brown, tell him that on behalf of all of South Australia you are sorry that he was dimissed, and bring him back to sought out the mess that your Labour mates created.
Posted by: Injured Worker of 8:02am August 17, 2008
Comment 18 of 24
WorkCover has been roted by a myriad of professionals for years. Injured workers simply want their health and lives restored. They want to get back to work. Instead of injured workers being mercilessly pilloried in a system over which they have absolutely no control, our so called Labor government should closely examine the role of the Case Manager, the "professional stranger", and the systemic mis-management that has brought SA WorkCover to its current disasterous position. Keep in mind that SA WorkCover was once the best run WorkCover scheme in the nation. What happened? Well done to those union officials brave enough to speak the truth.
Posted by: Duane of Adelaide 7:28am August 17, 2008
Comment 17 of 24
Good on the Union's. Someone has to look out for the little guys. That crook Howard tried to destroy rights for employees with WorkChoices and sadly this state Labor government is coming off a bit too neglectful. Rann better pull his head in. I'm disappointed enough in federal Labor as Rudd is only fazing out Howard's extreme laws over a five year period. This butchery of our fellow man just to further increase big business profits has to stop!
Posted by: Steve of Adelaide 11:36pm August 16, 2008
Comment 16 of 24
'Comrades'? Bunch of communists.
Posted by: Chris of Bargara 10:20pm August 16, 2008
Comment 15 of 24
I do not often say anything in favour of unions but in this case they are spot on. Well done for being so courageous.
Posted by: Margaret of Farside 10:12pm August 16, 2008
Comment 14 of 24
The State Government has more than egg on its face over this disaster! Now, they MUST settle down and come up with something better that stops the cheats, gives benefits to injured workers, and, still allow businesses to make a profit. If Rann wants to make a headline here he could come up with something that 'satisfies' all groups. Stay tuned. Question when was this 'work-cover' legislation started? (I don't know)
Posted by: Mark of somewhereelse 10:02pm August 16, 2008
Comment 13 of 24
There is something fishy about the whole work cover system ! A people are abusing it ?. Or B the government is ripping of the system ? But one thing seems to be for sure something is bleeding it dry! Perhaps it's time for the workers to run their own work cover insurance that would sort it out Quiksmart when they have to waste their own" money !
Posted by: drecked of nappy valley 8:29pm August 16, 2008
Comment 12 of 24
This is what is needed, the govt. of the day needs to be reminded of it's grass roots.
Posted by: Chairman Mal of Down South. 7:02pm August 16, 2008
Comment 11 of 24
Its because he is so far out of touch with everything ,even his own party policies and goals dont match ,time to give it away don the dressing gown and fade away and take his tram off into the sunset
Posted by: keith black of mawson lakes 6:33pm August 16, 2008
Comment 10 of 24
There are a myriad reasons why workcover is falling apart at the seems. Those reasons cannot be laid at the feet of the government. No matter which way you look at it, a one billion dollar unfunded liabilty is a problem for each and every South Australian. Future generations will have to pick up the tab if we don't act now. All the spin and rhetoric in the world won't fix it. You can't polish a turd. Mike Rann had no choice but to act in the best interests of the people of the state of South Australia. Isn't that what he is supposed to do? Inaction in the past has lead us directly to this point. Further inaction will cause the whole system to implode. Then the state will come to grinding halt. How does that benefit a single worker?
Posted by: Keith Warren of Salisbury 6:27pm August 16, 2008
Comment 9 of 24
All workers must relise, that this is the only way to rid themselves of trators to the cause. Let politicians firstly, remove their own conditions as an example. We must keep up our standards or end up as just another bunch of people living in poverty. Up the Workers, and down with tyranny and traitors.
Posted by: Maxa of Elizabeth 5:37pm August 16, 2008
Comment 8 of 24
BJ of Adelaide; Could it be possible that your hard wotkinmg Labor gobernment got it wrong this time?
Posted by: Fred of Sturt 5:35pm August 16, 2008
Comment 7 of 24
When will the government turn around and take a look for itself at what the real problem is with WorkCover? Its obvious that there is substantial problem somewhere with the finances otherwise there would not be such a massive unfunded liability. I do not think the injured workers and employers could be convinced that a common law system would not work better with benefits for workers and employers. It seeems the current system has been one of too much administration and not enough productivity. Perhaps they need to re think the legislation after a royal commission into why it has a billion dollar unfunded liability.
Posted by: Steve Christos of Adelaide 4:54pm August 16, 2008
Comment 6 of 24
How can Rann state "I was not prepared to stand by and watch the cost of the scheme grow thereby reducing the state's competitive advantage" when he has done nothing for 6 years whilst injured workers have been pleading for help in that time.
Posted by: andrew pascoe of burnside 4:43pm August 16, 2008
Comment 5 of 24
This is a fine example of the democratic ideals and free speech that Labor so vigorously upholds and defends. To the Liberal-lovers, I ask what would your party have done with respect to the WorkCover liability blowout ?? The Liberals would have further punished injured workers, and had no protection for anyone. Labor has a heart.
Posted by: BJ of Adelaide 4:05pm August 16, 2008
Comment 4 of 24
Mr Rann should have done more than "shift in his seat". He should live in his seat or get out of his seat.
Posted by: Wally Reimers of Salisbury 3:58pm August 16, 2008
Comment 3 of 24
Yes it is true we have had the most generous compo legislation in this country. We got it by giving up the right to sue under common law when the employer was guilty of neglect etc. This has saved employers countless millions. Now we will have pitiful compensation, with no common law rights. Only 15 years for employers to get to this position from the initial agreement, no wonder they're share holders are so rich. I'll never vote Labour again.
Posted by: Disappointed South Aussie of 3:31pm August 16, 2008
Comment 2 of 24
Yes it is true we have had the most generous compo legislation in this country. We got it by giving up the right to sue under common law when the employer was guilty of neglect etc. This has saved employers countless millions. Now we will have pitiful compensation, with no common law rights. Only 15 years for employers to get to this position from the initial agreement, no wonder they're share holders are so rich. I'll never vote Labour again.
Posted by: Disappointed South Aussie of 3:31pm August 16, 2008
Comment 1 of 24
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Posted by Anonymous at 9:34 AM, 19/8/2008 |
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An implacable hatred
An implacable hatred
You won’t read about this in the Advertiser.
A couple of weeks back, nightly TV news bulletins ran a line about Mike Rann storming out of a press conference after a heated disagreement with a reporter.
The Tiser’s Michael Owen, unhappy with Rann’s response to questions about Labor’s leadership crisis, had talked over the Premier, demanding he answer “in a professional way”. That clearly got under Rann’s skin; he retorted that he hoped “one day you will act in a professional way”, before walking off. As he passed Owen, the reporter hit back: “The feeling’s mutual, Premier.”
“I know,” said Rann. “You’re about as biased as it comes.”
Rann later returned to the podium, perhaps realising that terminating a press conference in such a way is a bad look.
For Owen, though, the trouble had just started.
Now, I’m not denying that Rann strongly felt he’d been wronged. He was livid and shaken about the exchange. It was certainly not treatment to which he is accustomed.
So he took action to try and ensure it was not treatment he would have to deal with again.
According the various sources (not Owen), the Premier called Michael Miller, Advertiser Newspapers’ managing director, who in turn called the paper’s editor, Melvin Mansell. Mansell summoned Owen and, after hearing his version, effectively cut him off at the knees. At all future media conferences, the Tiser’s political reporter must sit at the back of the room, and is banned from asking any questions.
Not bad for a paper Rann recently dubbed “a Liberal newsletter”.
The fact that the spat was reported on every network that evening further inflamed the situation. Channel Ten played the entire exchange, rolling subtitles over Owen’s interjections.
Miller and Mansell determined that Owen must sign a grovelling letter of apology to Rann, something he was apparently none too keen to do. Of course, he had a choice – he could either sign the letter, or he could be fired.
As a symbol of the Tiser’s willingness to back its reporters, it was not a good look. The fact is, Owen’s abrasive relationship with the government and his unwillingness to toe their line has yielded him plenty of good yarns over the past year or two, including a genuine revelation about the new Marjorie-Jackson Nelson Hospital.
The Tiser can’t expect to foster a news culture in its young newsroom if it bends to government pressure, openly cowing a senior reporter to keep the government on-side.
As I say, Rann was genuinely vexed by the exchange, so it could be argued he took drastic action to address what he saw as a drastic problem. Well, that could be argued, if not for the fact that this isn’t the first time the government has campaigned to nobble a political journalist.
Kevin Naughton will certainly never forget the time he crossed the Rann Government. The former journalist, who now works as a spin doctor for the Liberal Opposition, was hosting afternoon drive-time on ABC radio in 2002. Government buildings in the CBD were in lock-down after the shooting of Margaret Tobin, amid a massive manhunt for her killer. The station was getting calls from frazzled public servants, wanting to know what was going on.
As it happened, Naughton’s next guest was the Premier. His producer informed Rann that he would be asked for an update on the situation, to which he replied that he wasn’t across it, and didn’t want any questions on the subject. This was relayed to Naughton, who insisted that the Premier should offer some reassurance. Finally, 30 seconds before the interview was due to take place, Naughton’s producer informed him that Rann had pulled the pin on the interview altogether. Incensed, the presenter relayed the entire exchange to his listeners.
This was back in the early days of the Rann administration, so there was no telling how the Premier’s office would respond. What they did was lean on the program director for an on-air apology (which they got), and then refuse to appear again with Naughton...ever.
The only other time Naughton spoke to the Premier was during the 2006 election campaign, when he was writing for the Sunday Mail. Even then, Rann had demanded the interview be conducted by someone else; the paper’s editor, Phil Gardner, informed him that he decided who wrote what at his paper, not the Premier’s office.
Then there was the almost two-year boycott of ABC891 morning duo Matthew Abraham and David Bevan.
Of course, not all the government’s efforts have been so successful.
When I was at The Australian’s Adelaide bureau, Rann’s office met several times with senior executives in News Ltd to try and have the bureau’s then-political reporter, Michelle Wiese-Bockmann, removed from her post. Ministers and staffers alike took exception to her abrasive style, and believed she was out to get them with her reporting agenda. But the principle of the media as a fourth estate suggests that it’s not up to politicians to dictate who reports the news, or how they do it. Whatever the rationale, if the newspaper had adhered to a government’s request to remove a particular reporter, for whatever reason, the credibility of that paper would never survive.
The Tiser has not removed Michael Owen, but it has effectively prevented him from doing his job. And it has sent out a message to all its reporters about whose side it is on when the chips are down.
Mansell and Miller answer to News Ltd CEO John Hartigan. Miller is a marketing man by profession, but Hartigan came up through the ranks as a reporter. Last year, he gave a laudable Andrew Olle Lecture about the state of modern journalism, its character and its soul. He lovingly quoted British journalist Nicholas Tomalin’s list of qualities every reporter should possess.
Among them was “an implacable hatred of administrators, lawyers and politicians”.
I’d like to think Hartigan would disapprove of the treatment Owen is receiving, but who knows? We live in strange times.
But if anyone in the media is comfortable with the principle of a State Government getting to decide who reports the news, and how, in the lead-up to an election, then, as they used to say during the Cold War: “Why don’t ya just go and live in Russia?”
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Posted by http://www.independentweekly.com.au/news/local/new at 7:41 PM, 7/11/2008 |
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