Proposed changes to liability and entitlements for psychological injury in New South Wales: Exposure Draft - Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
15 May 2025
On Friday 9 May 2025, the NSW Government released the Exposure Draft of the Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 (‘Exposure Draft’). The matter was referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice (‘Standing Committee’) for inquiry, with stakeholder submissions due by 12pm on Thursday 15 May 2025.
The ALA’s NSW Branch Workers Compensation Subcommittee produced the ALA’s written submission opposing the provisions of the Exposure Draft.
Rita Yousef also gave evidence on behalf of the ALA to the Standing Committee at the inquiry’s public hearing on Friday 16 May 2025.
In Rita’s testimony and in the ALA’s written submission, we emphasised that the changes proposed in the Exposure Draft are significant and will impact all injured workers – whether injured physically or psychologically, or both.
Further, we relayed the concern of ALA members that a significant number of injured workers in NSW will have no entitlement to claim compensation and to seek the rehabilitation and return to work support they need, if the changes in the Exposure Draft are enacted.
Instead of drastically stripping away rights from injured workers, the ALA has urged the NSW Government to be progressing measures which address prevention of injuries (both physical and psychological) in workplaces across NSW, as well as measures which support the rehabilitation and return to work for workers who are injured in NSW.
Reflective of the experience of and regard for ALA members, the following ALA members also gave evidence to the Standing Committee on Friday in other capacities: Shane Butcher, Roshana May, David Jones, Tim Concannon, Ramina Dimitri and Larissa Atkinson.
The Standing Committee’s final report is due by this Friday 23 May 2025.
ALA submission
Hearing testimony from Rita Yousef (16 May 2025), pp. 58-66