Workers rally against changes to compo
By Tim Gooden
CANBERRA — Public sector workers responded to a call on August 26 from the ACT Trades and Labour Council to rally against proposed changes to workers' compensation. The lunch-time rally in the city centre attracted 450.
The rally followed a delegates' meeting on August 13 at which TLC secretary Jeremy Pyner explained that the proposed bill to amend the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act would reduce access to injury compensation and move away from a "no fault" compensation scheme to one in which workers would have to show that the employer had not acted reasonably.
Despite freezing conditions and no public address system, workers listened intently to speakers from the Democrats, ALP, WA Greens and the TLC.
ALP Senator Bob McMullan told the crowd that the ALP will vote against the bill. ALP opposition MLA Wayne Berry claimed he would fight "a rearguard action" in the ACT Legislative Assembly and wished workers "good luck".
WA Greens Senator Dee Margetts described changes to WA's compensation scheme which gave employers the right to sue workers for equipment damaged when they injured themselves. Margetts vowed to oppose any changes that reduced workers' rights.
Pyner was the only trade union leader to address the rally, which was all over in 35 minutes. No future action was announced.