Commerce Minister Simon O’Brien has announced changes to workers compensation laws, abolishing aged-based discrimination.
Mr O’Brien said all workers would now have the same entitlements to compensation, regardless of age.
“Workers aged 64 and older have always been entitled to worker’s compensation, but until now were only entitled to a maximum of 12 months of weekly income payments,” he said in a statement released today.
“That time limit has been scrapped.”
Mr O’Brien also said that workers who lost hearing after the age of 65 would be able to make a workers’ compensation claim on the same basis as everybody else.
“These changes promote equity in the workplace and the opportunity to continue working past 65,” he said.
“The state has an ageing workforce, low unemployment and a need to maintain skilled and experienced people.
“We want to encourage older workers to remain at work and the state’s workers’ compensation scheme should support this.”
The amendments took effect from October 1.
