The WorkCover Authority claims that psychological/psychiatric injuries are a major problem.
It's right, these injuries inflict massive suffering on the workers who have them. Mr Hanks
wants to solve the problem by taking most stress claims out of the system as a work-place
injury that workers receive compensation for from WorkCover. He says a psychological/psychiatric
injury that arises from any "reasonable management action" shouldn't count as a work-place injury.
From WorkCover's point of view this would solve the problem, but a worker would left on
the scrap-heap without medical care or financial support.
Every year about 3000 people receive stress injuries at work.
The Review also wants to force these workers to take part in mediation and/or workplace
counselling before liability for their claim is considered.
The VTHC says including "any reasonable management action" as a reason to not accept
claims discriminates against injured workers with psychological/psychiatric injuries, and
will result in the vast majority of stress claims not being accepted.