Workers Compensation - Immoral and Unethical
“Immoral and unethical”: The financial scandal and human cost of Australia’s failing workers compensation schemes.
“Immoral and unethical”: The financial scandal and human cost of Australia’s failing workers compensation schemes.
“All these people have their snouts in the trough. It's a disaster, unmitigated disaster.” Industry insider
Workers compensation is supposed to be a safety net designed to return injured employees to the workplace and provide assistance to those so badly hurt that they can no longer hold down a job.
Australian workers are guaranteed these protections by law, but there is disturbing evidence the system is failing badly.
“The decisions that I've seen in our investigations are not only unjust and unreasonable and wrong, some of them are downright immoral and unethical.” Regulator
On Monday, reporter Adele Ferguson reveals the scandalous state of workers compensation schemes in Australia, in a joint Four Corners, The Age and Sydney Morning Herald investigation.
“I'm one individual going up against an entire system. They've got billions of dollars behind them, they've got unlimited resources, and what do I have?” Injured worker
Billions of dollars are set aside for these compensation schemes, yet some injured workers say their lives have been ruined by insurers hell-bent on avoiding payouts.
“I'm trying to get better and I have to fight for treatment. I'm not asking for a diamond ring or a new car. I'm asking for treatment.” Injured worker
Four Corners examines the insurance companies contracted to run Australia’s largest workers compensation schemes and the dubious methods they employ to assess claims.
“This is about people’s lives. This is about human suffering, and what you see are references to numbers and files and claims.” Regulator
While workers often lose out, the compensation business is lucrative for those operating it.
“You can just imagine how many people and organisations are circling around that pool of money and trying to make a buck out of it.” MP and former workers compensation lawyer
This revealing investigation will expose who the winners and losers are in the workers compensation scandal.
“It’s not a safety net at all. I just can't believe that it's in this country. I can't believe that it's such a barbaric system.” Injured worker