The NSW government has referred its plans for worker health and safety law reforms to a parliamentary inquiry.

The state will seek feedback on its exposure draft bill from the Law and Justice Standing Committee, after completing its round of formal consultations.  

Ministers say the reforms aim to modernise safety laws and workers’ compensation schemes to ensure better outcomes for people with job-related psychological or physical injuries.  

Among its target areas are changes to prevention, early intervention and return to work schemes.  

“These include major reforms to SafeWork NSW, such as expanding the psychosocial inspectorate, and industrial relations reforms that establish a ‘stop bullying’ jurisdiction,” state Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis said.  

“Additionally, we have amended the icare Act to include a principal objective focused on promoting early and appropriate treatment and care for injury and illness.

“This aims to optimise recovery, support return to work and daily activities, and ensure a sustainable compensation system.”  

Customer Service Minister Jihad Dib says it is important to improve outcomes for people with psychological injuries, as only half of workers return to work within a year.  

“The current system was primarily designed to support people who suffered a physical injury at work; it doesn’t do enough to help people experiencing psychological injury to recover and return to work,” he said.  

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey says the reforms also address premiums. A 36% increase in costs is projected if no changes are made.  

“We must ensure that NSW has a workers’ compensation system for future generations to rely upon,” he said. “The status quo is failing workers and it’s failing businesses.”  

The government says the exposure draft offers proposals “for the next phase of conversations and to highlight the scale of the challenges the scheme is facing”.