Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020

As Minister for Health, strongly supports the bill providing presumptive PTSD coverage for first responders, reversing the onus of proof so their injury is deemed work-related.

“This new legislation will mean that first responders who are struggling to cope with PTSD, a serious mental health condition, will not have to show that their injury is work related.”— 2021-05-12View Hansard

As Minister, introduced and moved the bill to provide presumptive workers compensation for first responders diagnosed with PTSD, reversing the onus of proof to make claims easier.

“This bill provides Queensland's first responders with an important safeguard under the workers compensation scheme if they are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, as a result of the work they do for all of us here in Queensland.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supports the bill for providing PTSD support to first responders.

“I rise to speak in support of the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020.”— 2021-05-12View Hansard

While criticising the government for claiming credit for low workers compensation premiums achieved by the LNP, he supported the bill's intent to help first responders with PTSD claims.

“If we look at the last six years under this minister, have they had the same downgrade? The minister inherited premiums at $1.20 and she claims today she has the best in the country at $1.20.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supports the bill as important support for first responders.

“I rise to speak in support of the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020.”— 2021-05-12View Hansard

As committee chair, supported the bill as building on earlier reforms for psychological injury support and thanked the minister for responding to committee recommendations.

“Our first responders in all industries do an incredible job keeping our community safe.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supports the bill for PTSD coverage for first responders.

“I rise to speak in support of the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020.”— 2021-05-12View Hansard

Supported the bill and praised first responders for dealing with traumatic events, citing local examples including the Hannah Clarke tragedy.

“No words can ever describe the emotional trauma and stress those first responders feel on seeing lives broken into pieces.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supports the bill for protecting first responders.

“I rise to speak in support of the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020.”— 2021-05-12View Hansard

As committee member, supported the bill and was pleased that government amendments addressed KAP concerns about making the definition of frontline worker more prescriptive.

“The introduction of this bill into the House will give not only those working in those extreme conditions but also their family members peace of mind that they will be looked after when they suffer a mental health injury.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supports the bill for PTSD support.

“I rise to speak in support of the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020.”— 2021-05-12View Hansard

Supported the bill as demonstrating respect for first responders and making it easier for them to access fair workers compensation when suffering PTSD.

“I am very proud that as they concentrate on serving our community, including taking the daily risk of being exposed to pretty horrific scenes, we are doing our bit to have their backs.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supports the bill.

“I rise to speak in support of the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020.”— 2021-05-12View Hansard

As former police officer, spoke from personal experience about trauma exposure and stated the LNP will not oppose the bill.

“The LNP will not be opposing this bill. However, I can attest from personal experience that managing trauma, life-threatening incidents and the myriad duties that our first responders attend to is not easy.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

As Minister for Industrial Relations, moved the bill through third reading.

“I move that the bill, as amended, be now read a third time.”— 2021-05-12View Hansard

Supported the bill as backing Queensland workers and making it easier for first responders with PTSD to access support under the workers compensation scheme.

“By reversing the onus of proof, a specific injury like PTSD is deemed to be work related unless there is evidence to the contrary.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Outlined the bill's objective to presume first responders have work-related PTSD unless proven otherwise, supporting the alternative claims pathway.

“The objective of the bill is to provide an alternative claims pathway for first responders with PTSD which presumes they have a work related injury unless it is proven their injury was not caused by work.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

As former support worker for violence victims, supported the bill addressing eligibility and access for first responders diagnosed with work-related PTSD.

“I know how impossible it is for us in this room today to truly understand the scenarios that they face every day going to work, the things that they see and hear, smell and experience, and the toll that that can take on a person throughout their career.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Explicitly stated support for the bill creating special workers compensation for first responders with PTSD, while highlighting lack of mental health services in regional areas.

“I rise to speak in support of this bill, which will essentially create a special category of workers compensation for first responders suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder due to trauma exposure suffered in the course of their work duties.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Speaking from personal experience with PTSD from military service and as husband of a former police officer, supported the bill as an important step for first responders.

“It is my view that governments at all levels have a moral obligation to support those who have sacrificed their mental and physical health in performing important tasks which, while necessary, often have a significant detrimental effect on those who perform them.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

As former nurse, supported the bill as improving chances for effective treatment and rehabilitation of first responders with PTSD.

“This bill is a really important step because it is going to improve the chances of the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation. For that reason alone, it is an incredibly important step forward.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Declared first responders as community heroes and confirmed LNP support for the bill, comparing it favourably to presumptive laws for firefighters passed in 2015.

“First responders are the heroes of our communities, and the LNP's support of the bill is recognition of that.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

As 20-year police veteran who experienced mental health battles with the service, gave powerful personal testimony supporting the bill as a champion for general duties officers.

“They will see death—and lots of it—in almost every single imaginable way, the sudden and the not so sudden. They will see the results of, and bear witness to, extreme violence.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Commended first responders but raised concerns about inadequate consultation with local government sector regarding the committee's recommendation to include local government employees.

“This recommendation from the committee is not an amendment that should be done on the run by the Labor government. It has been dropped on the local government sector at the last minute and, Minister, it is quite vague.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill as demonstrating what a Labor government does for workers suffering from PTSD, sharing personal stories of affected friends.

“This is what this legislation is about. This is what a Labor government does.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supported the bill while crediting the LNP's previous management of workers compensation premiums and reforms.

“The important issue here is that workers compensation premiums were managed by the LNP, which inherited a system that made us amongst the highest in the country.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supported the bill's approach to reverse the onus of proof for first responders with PTSD, while noting concerns about the broad definition of first responders.

“Under presumptive laws, a specified injury (e.g. PTSD) is deemed to be work-related, unless there is evidence to the contrary.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supported the bill as normalising seeking help for first responders affected by repeated trauma exposure, sharing a local story of a fatal motorcycle accident.

“By passing this bill we are normalising asking for help. We as a society and a parliament are recognising that it is completely understandable that being repeatedly exposed to traumatic events in your line of work may impact on your mental health.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supported presumptive legislation as providing validation that PTSD is a workplace injury and fostering timely access to compensation for first responders.

“Presumptive legislation will provide much needed validation that PTSD is a workplace injury for emergency services providers.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Explicitly stated support for the legislation to take care of first responders dealing with PTSD, noting it closes the gap for the 10-20% of claims not currently accepted.

“Like so many others in the House have said, we support this legislation because it is so important to take care of our first responders.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supported the bill as providing an important safeguard for first responders with PTSD by reversing the onus of proof and reducing barriers to early treatment.

“The bill means that first responders struggling to cope with PTSD will not need to demonstrate that their injury was caused by their work.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supported the legislation as providing recognition and validation of first responders and improved pathways for claimants, while emphasising need for monitoring the rollout.

“It is also important to highlight that the implications from potential trauma, whether that be cumulative or one of trauma, is now recognised with these improved pathways for claimants to access the WorkCover scheme and provisions.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supported the bill providing presumptive workers compensation for first responders diagnosed with PTSD, reversing the onus of proof.

“Presumptive workers compensation laws allow easier, more timely access to necessary support and compensation by reversing the onus of proof and deeming an injury to be work related, unless there is evidence to the contrary.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Confirmed the LNP will not oppose the bill, supporting a strong workers compensation system that ensures first responders with PTSD receive needed support.

“It is for this reason that the LNP will not be opposing this bill. The LNP supports a strong and sustainable workers compensation system that ensures all Queensland workers who suffer a physical or a mental injury or illness are able to recover and receive the support they need to do so.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supported the bill while highlighting first responders including rural fire brigades and SES volunteers who face traumatic situations, sharing story of firefighters at 2019 NSW bushfires.

“One of the firefighters fought back tears, telling me of the tragedies they had witnessed with the horrific death of animals and hearing the animals' screams as they were trapped in the fires.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

As former police officer of nearly 30 years, supported the bill while sharing experience as officer in charge and rehabilitation officer supporting colleagues with trauma.

“I am proud to have been a frontline police officer for almost 30 years and I am even prouder of my role as an officer in charge, supporting, encouraging and leading my colleagues.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supported the bill while sharing story of attending memorial for fire victim, recognising the trauma experienced by firefighters, police and ambulance officers who attend such scenes.

“We owe it to those who suffer this serious workplace injury to ensure that they are treated fairly and are helped by our workers compensation scheme.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Acknowledged the government's virtuous intentions and supported the bill as filling a genuine need, while raising concerns about mental health service deficits in smaller towns.

“Like every good opposition or crossbench member, we try to give a rigorous critique of anything that the government does and certainly I try to do that. However, it is pretty hard to do that here as I think the government's intention is virtuous so well done.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

As former paramedic with over 30 years experience, gave powerful testimony supporting the bill, stating it will save lives and thanking ministers involved.

“This legislation will save lives.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Described the bill as one of the most important since 2004, sharing personal story of his best mate who was a paramedic and never recovered from attending a traumatic accident.

“I agree that this is probably one of the most important pieces of legislation that has come to the parliament since I was elected in 2004.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

As former paramedic and firefighter who experienced the Ash Wednesday bushfires firsthand, spoke from lived experience supporting the bill.

“My story is one of lived experience. Like other members of this House, I devoted my life to a career on the front line before I came into this place.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard

Supported the bill but raised concerns from submitters about extending presumptive compensation to broader mental illnesses and strengthening evidence requirements for rebuttal.

“This is a bill that I support. It is very important legislation.”— 2021-05-11View Hansard