Sarah Courtney,Minister for Building and Construction
Nation-leading legislation introduced today will make it straightforward for public sector workers to access work-related compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The amendment to the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 will make Tasmania the first jurisdiction in Australia to introduce presumption for PTSD suffered by public sector workers and volunteer first responders.
The changes will reverse the onus of proof for public sector workers and volunteer first responders claiming compensation for PTSD.
Where presumption applies, it will be assumed that the injury is work-related, unless evidence is presented by the employer to establish that the cause of the injury was not work-related.
This legislation acknowledges the incredibly difficult situations that many of our emergency responders, in particular, face in the line of work.
This ground breaking reform will have a profound impact for our frontline workers, who put their lives at risk to protect us, and help to de-stigmatise mental health issues in our community.
