Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Senator Lambie. You're right that under Minister Burke, my predecessor in this role, a review of Comcare was commenced, and you're right that it is a very long time since Comcare has been reviewed—back to 2012-13—and in fact it hasn't been subject to any major reforms since it started back in 1988. You've mentioned the fact that Comcare insures many thousands of employees across a range of different industries, not just in the public sector, and we did think it was high time that this scheme be reviewed.

Thank you for acknowledging that there is a consultation process underway. I'm not aware of exactly what process was adopted in advertising the ability for people to participate. My understanding was that the intention was to consult as widely as possible, and if that hasn't occurred then I'm certainly happy to take steps to widen the opportunity for people to be involved in this. We do want this to be a very inclusive review, because we know that there are many people in the community who have an interest in a well-functioning workers compensation insurer. Of course, the workers who are covered under this scheme have a right to be involved in it. The employers who pay premiums have a right to have their views heard as well, so that is certainly the intention behind this scheme.

I might just mention that I think we have managed to assemble a very high-quality panel of three highly qualified people to conduct this review. I have full confidence in the work that they are doing, but, as I say, if there's more we can do to widen the number of people who participate in the review and have the opportunity to have their say, I'll certainly take those steps. Senator Lambie, if there are particular individuals who you understand have not had that opportunity and you'd like to raise that, I'm happy to have a chat with you about that as well.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, first supplementary?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Lambie. I've just been advised by my office that it is still possible for those who have an interest in the Comcare review to make a submission via my department's website, and they can do that up until 2 December this year. I do remember being briefed on the plans around the consultation process, and I would be very surprised if it were the case that unions weren't invited or that those with lived experience of these issues weren't invited. What I'm not so sure about is what was done to communicate the opportunity to be involved to every single member of the public. But certainly the intention is to consult the types of groups you're talking about to make sure that their views and experiences are heard. As I say, if there is more that we can do to advertise this, I'm certainly happy to do so. I make the point again that people do have an opportunity up until 2 December to make a submission via my department's website.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, second supplementary?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Lambie. I'm happy to come back to you, on notice, Senator Lambie, as to how many submissions we've received so far. I think what you generally would find in government consultation processes is that the number of submissions received increases as you get closer to the deadline, so it wouldn't surprise me if we hadn't had a huge number up until now and if that number were to increase in the run up to it.

But I do reject the suggestion that we haven't attempted to involve people in this. As I say, there is consultation occurring. That has been advertised. I'm happy to provide you with the details about what was done to advertise it to individuals, but certainly there is consultation going on with the very types of groups that you've mentioned—and so there should be. We want to make sure that, as I say, the views of workers, the views of injured people, the views of unions and the views of employers are heard in this review. That's why there is a consultation process that's occurring over a number of weeks, and there's still an opportunity for people to be involved if they'd like to be.