A dire warning against workers’ compensation change

Democracy needs whistleblowers, but it is an increasingly thankless duty that can result in banishment, jail time and ongoing tribulation. The latest victim is the former manager of compliance at the NSW state insurer, icare, Chris McCann, who was instrumental in exposing dubious procurement practices, conflicts of interest over contracts and alleged corruption.

Abysmal management of the scandal-ridden state workers’ compensation insurer icare had turned the agency into a complete basketcase and McCann went public, speaking with then Sydney Morning Herald journalist Adele Ferguson as part of her Walkley Award-winning coverage of the scandal five years ago, providing evidence to a parliamentary inquiry.

He was also lauded by the then Labor opposition as the victim of a bullying campaign within the organisation. Now McCann himself is on workers’ compensation after a separate incident and claims the same Labor MPs who hailed his bravery in the face of workplace harassment and bullying are now trying to stop people like him receiving long-term support.

Dominic Perrottet set up icare in 2015 when he was Coalition finance minister to replace Labor’s insolvent WorkCover scheme, and under the controversial section 39 provisions of NSW workers’ compensation laws, most people are cut off from receiving benefits and treatment. Labor pledged to repeal this section before the 2023 state election.

Now the Minns government is bent on paring back access to long-term benefits, cutting them after only two-and-a-half years, with medical treatments ending a year later and lifting the threshhold for damages.

However, the reforms have stalled in the upper house, blocked by the Coalition, Greens and independent MP Mark Latham since May. As a result, Labor has kicked the legislation to a parliamentary inquiry to clear the blockage. The Herald has previously backed the need for reforms to the system.

On Tuesday, McCann will appear to provide evidence to the parliamentary inquiry about his own experience. He has previously attempted suicide and continues to struggle with his mental health. He was hospitalised for treatment this year and believes he would not be eligible for long-term benefits under the government’s proposed changes to workers’ compensation.

McCann has accused Labor of using him “as a pawn”, describing the personal cost his own psychological injury had on him, and warning that changes to compensation laws would lead to people dying. “They wanted and needed me to expose what was happening in icare [and] now they couldn’t care less,” McCann said.

The government insists its changes are necessary to fix increasing costs and are focused on preventing workplace injuries. Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the reforms would create a “modern system that will better protect workers from psychological injury, and provide better help when they need it”.

Labor was happy to use McCann to berate the Perrottet government over its icare failures. But having won government, it has ditched previous commitments. The hypocrisy is unworthy, dangerous and in no way restores public confidence in a scheme that affects millions of lives.

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