BETTY Mullaly is one of thousands of injured workers facing an uncertain future, unless the State Government overturns changes to workers compensation laws which came into place almost five years ago. Betty suffered serious and ongoing injuries after a work place accident in 2007, and the 64-year-old, who is also terminally ill with cancer, stands to lose her house and her car after her workers compensation payments stop on December 27, 2017. In 2012, the State Government introduced radical changes to workers compensation laws, meaning anyone injured at work with whole body impairment of less then 20 per cent, will not receive ongoing payments after five years. Their medical benefits will also cease 12-months after their payments do. Betty’s sustained injuries to her neck, shoulder, back, spine, knee and hip, but “only” has 18 per cent whole body impairment, meaning come December 27, her payments will cease. Unless the laws are changed, she will lose her house and her car, and hope for a future. Greens MP, David Shoebridge, was in Bathurst on Wednesday to meet with Betty, before going to Orange to attend a forum to push for injured workers rights to be reinstated. Mr Shoebridge is actively campaigning for the laws to change. “These people need protection if they can’t work the system should cover them for economic loss,” he said. Mr Shoebridge said thousands of injured workers will face financial ruin once December 27, 2017 rolls around. Principal of Kenny Spring Solicitors Angus Edwards said he doesn’t think people realised back in 2012 the effect the changes to the laws would have. “Talk about a nice Christmas present; the State Government cutting off your benefits, even if you can get Centrelink benefits you’re still below the poverty line.” Mr Edwards said if the State Government doesn’t act, injured workers will face financial ruin. He said it wasn’t too late to overturn the laws, but it would require the State Government to acknowledge the error. “They acknowledged it with the local council amalgamations and the grey hounds, this is the third in a trifecta of poor decisions.”
CALL FOR CHANGE: Angus Edwards, from Kenny Spring, speaks with Greens MP, David Shoebridge, during a visit to Bathurst on Wednesday.
BETTY Mullaly is one of thousands of injured workers facing an uncertain future, unless the State Government overturns changes to workers compensation laws which came into place almost five years ago.
Betty suffered serious and ongoing injuries after a work place accident in 2007, and the 64-year-old, who is also terminally ill with cancer, stands to lose her house and her car after her workers compensation payments stop on December 27, 2017.
In 2012, the State Government introduced radical changes to workers compensation laws, meaning anyone injured at work with whole body impairment of less then 20 per cent, will not receive ongoing payments after five years.
Their medical benefits will also cease 12-months after their payments do.
Betty’s sustained injuries to her neck, shoulder, back, spine, knee and hip, but “only” has 18 per cent whole body impairment, meaning come December 27, her payments will cease.
Unless the laws are changed, she will lose her house and her car, and hope for a future.
Greens MP, David Shoebridge, was in Bathurst on Wednesday to meet with Betty, before going to Orange to attend a forum to push for injured workers rights to be reinstated.
Mr Shoebridge is actively campaigning for the laws to change.
“These people need protection if they can’t work the system should cover them for economic loss,” he said.
Mr Shoebridge said thousands of injured workers will face financial ruin once December 27, 2017 rolls around.
Principal of Kenny Spring Solicitors Angus Edwards said he doesn’t think people realised back in 2012 the effect the changes to the laws would have.
“Talk about a nice Christmas present; the State Government cutting off your benefits, even if you can get Centrelink benefits you’re still below the poverty line.”
Mr Edwards said if the State Government doesn’t act, injured workers will face financial ruin. He said it wasn’t too late to overturn the laws, but it would require the State Government to acknowledge the error.
“They acknowledged it with the local council amalgamations and the grey hounds, this is the third in a trifecta of poor decisions.”
