14 October 2011

WA’s older workers granted equal footing

Older Australians have welcomed the scrapping of discriminatory legislation that, until now, had restricted the level of compensation available to injured workers aged over 64 years.

Effective from 1 October 2011, the Western Australian Government has removed age based limitations from the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981.

Since 1981 injured workers aged 64 years or more had an entitlement to only 12 months of weekly income payments regardless of the amount of payment. In addition, compensation was not payable for noise induced hearing loss incurred after age 65.

The changes mean that these restrictions are now abolished and workers aged 64 years and older will be able to access compensation entitlements on the same terms as all other workers.

National Seniors Australia WA Policy Advisory Group chair June MacDonald said she welcomed the government’s moves to remove the discriminatory policy.

“For many seniors in the workforce this will be a welcome relief as so many have to work past the age of 65,’’ she said.

“This particularly affects seniors on fixed incomes who have been badly affected by the global financial crisis and have had to return to work to supplement their income.

“This gives them a sense of security for their ongoing working life.

“We are glad that the government is recognising how important older workers are to our workforce and giving them these equal rights that they should have had all along.”

JUNE MACDONALD IS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT ON 0416 208 154.

MEDIA: CASEY-ANN SEANIGER 0422 391 627.

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With a quarter of a million members Australia-wide, and 20,000 in Western Australia, National Seniors is the consumer lobby for the over 50s. It is the fourth largest organisation of its type in the world.