Media Release
The board of NSW’s failed workers’ compensation scheme must resign, following revelations they signed off on a move to deny 17,000 sick and injured workers proper compensation, says the Public Service Association.
A parliamentary inquiry on Monday revealed among a myriad of failures that the icare board sought to terminate payments to 17,000 sick and injured workers. CEO John Nagle resigned late last night following revelations he stayed on in the role despite being sanctioned by the board over a conflict of interest in 2019.
“A fish rots from its head – and it’s clear the board overseeing our workers’ compensation scheme are rotten and need to go,” said PSA general secretary Stewart Little.
“The Treasurer, who is the architect of icare, also needs to seriously consider his position. Because the appalling record of icare’s failures to look after injured workers, return them to work, and manage the scheme is a government-driven disaster.
“It is sickening how icare’s culture of executive entitlement is failing workers who need help in NSW.
“Since 2015, the number of icare executives who earn above $300,000 has had a 22-fold increase. While executives’ salaries have become bloated, some 52,000 injured workers have been underpaid $80 million in compensation.
“The system is failing workers right when they need care the most.
“Our members put their bodies on the line to keep our community safe and deliver services to the public. They should be able to rely upon a compensation system that is independent and free from influence.
“The current workers compensation model is broken. It does not have fairness incorporated into the system, deferring decisions to a list of rent seekers that rely upon the workers compensation system for fees – is not independent or fair.”
