Myth 4: If you cut injured workers rights, they will return to work sooner

1. The Government wants to reduce weekly payments 13 weeks after injury, then cut-off weekly payments and medical bills for most workers after 2 ½ years.
2. Even a 10% cut in weekly payments for a worker on the minimum wage is nearly $60 less each week.
3. Making injured workers survive on lower weekly payments won’t stop them being injured but will make it harder for them to make ends meet.
4. Many injured workers can work but their employer can’t or won’t give them a suitable job. Cutting their weekly payments won’t change this fact.
5. Many injured workers are working, but need follow-up operations or medication for many years. To cut them off from weekly benefits and medical costs is heartless and will put a huge financial strain on these families.
6. If injured workers can’t work and are cut off from weekly payments after 2 ½ years, they will be forced to move onto Centrelink payments. This will mean taxpayers, not insurance companies, bear the cost.