News

| July 24, 2023

Businesses punished by Labor’s mismanagement of WorkCover

Member for Lowan and Deputy Leader of the Nationals, Emma Kealy says local businesses have been dealt another cruel blow by Labor, with WorkCover bills rolling in this week showing staggering increases.

One local business has reported a rise of almost 80 per cent on last year – almost double the mooted 43 per cent hike in WorkCover costs.

Other small businesses have reported a $7000 rise this year alone, with no additional WorkCover claims in recent years.

“It’s simply unfair that businesses who are doing the right thing and providing a safe and supportive workplace are being forced to pay for Labor’s mismanagement of Victoria’s WorkCover scheme”, Ms Kealy says.

“For years Labor ignored the warning bells that WorkCover was heading towards collapse, and now they’re making Victorian businesses pay for Labor’s incompetence and mismanagement.

This new extra cost on Victorian businesses comes on the back of last weeks’ notice of a massive hike on energy bills, with businesses finding it harder and harder to afford to do business in Victoria under Labor.

“Victoria needs an affordable and effective WorkCover scheme but under Labor, workers are going to be abandoned if they have a mental health related injury. Victorians deserve a WorkCover scheme that works for them, and businesses must be supported to care for their valuable workforce, Ms Kealy says.

“Victoria is broke under Labor. Business bottom lines are being punished and jobs put at risk because of Labor’s record massive debt and culture of waste and corruption.

“With the cost of doing business in Victoria continuing to soar, it is obvious why Victorians can no longer afford life under Labor”, Ms Kealy says.