THE government plans an overhaul of Comcare, the compensation scheme for federal government workers. Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten said the aim was to modernise the scheme to ensure injured workers were given every opportunity to return to health, independence and work as soon as possible.
As well as providing rehabilitation and support for injured government workers, the scheme also covers employees of a small number of private corporations who self-insure under the Commonwealth scheme.
The review will be by Peter Hanks, QC, and Allan Hawke, a former departmental secretary. Mr Shorten said the review would not consider reducing existing benefits for workers under the scheme ''but will seek to further improve it to achieve fair and equitable outcomes for injured workers and a strong focus on rehabilitation.''