The Australian Hotels Association NSW, ClubsNSW and Restaurant and Catering Australia have joined up with the Australian Childcare Alliance NSW and the Pharmacy Guild NSW to call for bipartisan support of the Minns Government’s proposed reforms to the New South Wales workers compensation scheme.
The groups say that support from all sides of the state’s Parliament will mean there will be no further committee referrals that would delay the reforms being put into place.
AHA NSW Deputy CEO Sean Morrissey said: “We commend the Minns Government for this important and positive reform which will create a more sustainable workers compensation system for both employers and employees.”
In a joint statement the groups said: “The bill delivers the most substantial progress the system has seen in years and deserves support from all sides of politics. We are calling on the Liberal Party to confirm its support and urge them to back the reforms now rather than delay action. This is a clear opportunity to fix a system that is failing and deliver real outcomes for both workers and employers.”
ClubsNSW CEO Rebecca Riant said: “We applaud the Minns Labor Government for taking decisive and immediate action. The case for this workers compensation reform is clear and we do not need another inquiry. We encourage the NSW Parliament to seize this opportunity for bipartisan reform, creating a fair system for businesses and injured workers.”
The five industry bodies say that the proposed reforms to the workers’ compensation system aim to establish a more sustainable and equitable framework, and one that better supports employees with legitimate psychological injuries. Adding the reforms address “structural flaws” that currently incentivise prolonged absences and hinder recovery. The changes are designed to refocus the scheme on its core objectives: rehabilitation, return to work, and injury prevention.
Recent data shows a sharp rise in both the volume and cost of psychological injury claims, with employers often left unable to challenge unverified allegations under the current model.
The five key industry groups warn that the consequences of delaying reform are too severe. They argue that inaction would not only harm workers but also increase financial strain on businesses and erode public trust in the system. Without urgent changes, some employers could face premium hikes of up to 36 per cent, further burdening already stressed sectors.
Restaurant and Catering Australia CEO Suresh Manickam said: “The Minns Government is taking a positive step forward, which we support. We encourage all stakeholders to get behind this vital initiative.”