Ian West, Labor Council representative on the Advisory Council, said the Council has delivered real results and stability to the workers compensation system, which in the past has been a very volatile issue, and has had the union movement protesting in the streets. Ian said that the Advisory Council has this expertise but where they need highly specialised information, they consult with the experts. The outcomes speak for themselves. This process appears to have taken a long time and has been more difficult than any would have anticipated. However, it is clear that there are no quick fix solutions.
All quick fixes require either increased premiums or substantial changes to benefits.
The Minister needs to be mindful of what has been achieved by the Council and in contemplating his next steps needs to take this into account. In other words, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. It seems that the Advisory Council is the real driving force and is delivering positive results which has the full support of the stakeholders. On the eve of State Conference, Country Labor convenor Tony Kelly outlines how Labor is stealing the ground from under the National Party's feet. The future of work in the twenty-first century will be both provocative and challenging, according to Professor Russell Lansbury.