A moratorium on companies joining Comcare

The Rudd government has placed a moratorium, effective immediately, on new applications from private sector corporations wanting to move to the Comcare workers compensation scheme.

As announced before the election, the moratorium was necessary to enable the government to examine whether the Comcare scheme provides workers with access to appropriate workplace safety and compensation arrangements.

The previous Liberal government broadened the Comcare scheme, causing significant concern about occupational health and safety coverage for workers, particularly contractors.

The moratorium will allow the Rudd Government to work with the state and territory governments in consultation with employees and employers.

Companies already declared eligible to apply for a self-insurance licence by the previous Liberal government will not be affected by the moratorium.

The review of the Comcare scheme will conclude by the end of March 2008.