INJURED SOUTH AUSTRALIA WIN FIGHT ON WORKCOVER'S SECRET MEDICAL PANELS

27 June 2011

SA Unions have called on the State Government to immediately amend its WorkCover laws to abolish secretive Medical Panels after a Supreme Court win today.

The Full Court of the Supreme Court found that the Medical Panels do not have the power to be the ultimate decision maker when it comes to determining issues around an injured worker's capacity and questions about their injury.

SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles says the decision vindicates the unions three year campaign about aspects of the State government's 2008 amendments to the WorkCover legislation.

"We are very proud that this long running campaign for the fairness for injured South Australians has been won."

"We have argued that the Medical Panels are secretive Kangaroo Courts, at which injured people have no right to take advocates with them for support and advice, and no right of appeal."

"We never believed this stacked up legally - and we were right."

"These Medical Panels cost more than $9m a year and the Supreme Court has now found that their opinions are not binding on the courts."

"They should be abolished and the money spent on retraining injured South Australians so they can return to work sooner."

"Anyone can be injured at work and find themselves in the middle of the WorkCover nightmare where they currently have no rights to representation and no rights to appeal."

The Supreme court decision comes just a few days after the release of the Cossey report into the 2008 amendments, which found that many workers found Medical Panels intimidating and frightening.

"We now call on the new Minister for Workers Rehabilitation, Jack Snelling to act on this decision immediately."