Critical Times

The Verdict

The state government’s amendments to its controversial WorkCover legislation have served to tip the scales further in favour of employers.

SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles has disputed the Industrial Relations Minister’s suggestion that the amendments were achieved through discussion with unions and business.

“These changes are manifestly inadequate and show that our concerns are falling on deaf ears. We have put comprehensive proposals to the government in the past 2 weeks, yet none of yesterday’s amendments reflected the union position.”

“These changes are a stunt that proves the much vaunted negotiations were a sham. The amendments are merely an attempt to make Minister Wright appear reasonable, while distracting the public from our highly effective campaign.”

“Minister Wright’s subsequent comments that this is his final position have exposed a government determined to attack injured workers by cutting their pay and stripping away their rights, while at the same time delivering a financial windfall to employers”.

“Mike Rann has lost the right to claim he’s a Premier who represents the interests of working families”, Ms Giles says.

“We are watching this government like a hawk and will do so until we achieve a fair fix for WorkCover.”