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The NSW Government is set to repeal Section 19B of the Workers Compensation Act 1987 while ensuring workers are still protected if they contract COVID-19 in the workplace. Changes to the Act were made in May 2020, when very little was known about COVID-19 and its transmission.
The amendments included a presumption that workers who contracted COVID-19 had done so at work. Premier Dominic Perrotett said workers will still be entitled to make a workers compensation claim if they contract COVID-19 in their workplace when the legislation is repealed.
“Now we know more about COVID-19 and its transmission, amendments under Section 19B of the Act must be repealed so the workers compensation system is both fair to employees and ensuring businesses aren’t hit with an unexpected spike in their insurance bills”, Mr Perrottet said.
“When the NSW Government originally made the amendments, we had little information about how COVID-19 was spread and whether it was more likely to be contracted in workplaces, and we certainly didn’t have a vaccine rollout.”
“Now that the economy is steadily reopening, we want businesses investing in new staff and higher wages, not inflated insurance bills.”
Treasurer Matt Kean said the NSW Government is ensuring businesses don’t foot the bill for more than half a billion dollars in premium increases by repealing these amendments.
“Small businesses have been hit hard enough by COVID-19 restrictions over the past two years, so now would be the wrong time for them to be slugged with a massive, unexpected insurance premium increase,” Mr Kean said.
“If the NSW Government doesn’t repeal this amendment, we risk losing jobs just as our recovery is gaining momentum across our State.”
Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said the scheme could be hit with more than 25,000 extra claims over the coming year and small businesses could be slugged with an average increase in their insurance premiums of $950, if these changes are not made.
“Removing the automatic workers compensation entitlements will not remove a worker’s right to make a claim if they contract COVID-19 as a result of their employment. This right is retained,” Mr Dominello said.
“There is nowhere else in the world with automatic workers compensation rights due to COVID-19 that are as broad as those in NSW.”
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said recent estimates based on Doherty Institute modelling, indicate COVID-19 claims could cost the NSW workers compensation system up to $638 million over the coming year.
“The NSW Government is calling on the Opposition to support this legislation to give businesses confidence and certainty as we reopen our economy.”
The COVID-19 presumption, introduced by Section 19B of the Workers Compensation Act 1987, provides automatic workers compensation rights for workers who contract COVID-19 and who work in industries such as healthcare, education, retail, transport, emergency services, construction, disability and aged care, dining and entertainment.
“With this presumption wound back, workers can still make claims and insurers can focus on good claims management practices,” Mr Tudehope said.
The NSW Government will introduce a bill to repeal the automatic workers compensation presumption established under section 19B of the Workers Compensation Act 1987 this week.

New English and Mathematics syllabuses for the State’s youngest students were released today, marking a major milestone in the NSW Government’s Curriculum Reform agenda.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said students in kindergarten, year 1 and year 2 would be the first to benefit from the changes, following the first comprehensive review in more than 30-years.
“One of the most important things a government can do is provide a quality education and reform was needed to bring our curriculum into the 21^stcentury,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The new approach will ensure our youngest learners are provided with a solid foundation to grow from, with a focus on literacy and numeracy skills.”
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said for the first time the curriculum is completely online and comes with explicit teaching examples.
“We heard clearly from teachers that navigating syllabuses was unnecessarily arduous,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The new online curriculum removes ambiguity for teachers, and comes with explicit teaching advice on an online platform. This will be particularly helpful for early-career teachers.”
Changes in the new K to 2 English and Mathematics syllabuses include:

• Simple, concise language which identifies key knowledge and skills.
• Easily accessed and navigated on a new Digital Curriculum platform.
• Clear expectations on student reading progression.
• Renewed focus on handwriting.
• New supports for students with significant intellectual disability.
• Emphasis on ‘reasoning’ in mathematics.
• Advanced counting strategies.

The reformed curriculum will be delivered to schools on a new Digital Curriculum platform, a $13.6 million NSW Government investment.
The new syllabuses are available at curriculum.nsw.edu.au. Implementation begins next year, with all NSW schools teaching the syllabuses from 2023. The NSW Government continues its work to deliver the new K – 12 NSW Curriculum by 2024.

A new fleet of drones will be deployed to help prevent shark attacks with custom first-aid kits and technology rolled out to surf clubs up and down the NSW coast as part of a new strategy to help save lives.
In an Australian-first, the NSW Government will partner with Surfing NSW to deliver shark attack specific first-aid training, life-saving technology and custom first aid kits to more than 160 board rider clubs and surf schools across the coast.
As part of the shark incident response program, up to 20 drones deployed to patrol surf events.
Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall made the announcement today and said Surfing NSW would receive $500,000 in funding to roll-out the revolutionary strategy.
“Sadly, most recent shark attack victims have been surfers, so this investment is about doing everything we can to ensure they get help quickly,” Mr Marshall said.
“Every surfer in NSW will now have access to first-aid training through Surfing NSW’s Surfers Rescue 24/7 program, while customised medical kits and training will be supplied to more than 110 NSW boardrider clubs and 55 surf schools.
“To help keep surfers even safer, an additional fleet of 20 drones will be used by Surfing NSW to patrol their events, in addition to our world-leading fleet of shark-spotting drones already delivered by Surf Life Saving NSW.
“NSW has the largest shark management program anywhere across the globe and this is just another tool to help keep swimmers and surfers safe at the best beaches in the world.”
Surfing NSW CEO Luke Madden said partnering with the NSW Government would upskill surfers to ensure they had the knowledge and tools needed in dire situations.
“I think I speak for a lot of surfers in this state, when I say that we’re grateful for this support that will ultimately benefit all NSW surfers,” Mr Madden said.
“These skills and resources could prove life-saving, especially in remote regions where emergency services may be some distance away.
“Every one of us wants to make sure we have the skills and tools we need so that if the worst happens to one of our mates, we can do everything we can to save them.”
The NSW Government’s 2021-2022 Shark Management Program includes:

• The largest fleet of shark-spotting drones keeping watch over 50 beaches;
• 37 VR4G listening stations to detect tagged sharks;
• 170 SMART drumlines;
• The continuation of 51 shark nets between Newcastle and Wollongong; and
• The SharkSmart app and community awareness and education programs and shark research.

The NSW Government encourages beachgoers to be SharkSmart when entering the ocean and download the SharkSmart app. For more information, visit www.sharksmart.nsw.gov.au.

The NSW Government today announced $3 million in funding to boost COVID-19 response efforts for small rural and border councils to support their communities.
Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said NSW Partnerships: Local Councils Program – Stage 2 would provide grants of $90,000 each for 33 bush and border councils.
“While our State is reopening as COVID-19 restrictions ease and vaccination rates increase, we need to ensure we continue to support our vulnerable communities hardest hit by the pandemic,” Mrs Hancock said.
“The grants, targeted at small rural councils and those adjoining state and territory borders, recognise the additional challenges they have faced during the pandemic such as resource constraints, isolation, the tyranny of distance, border closures and other cross-border impacts.”
Mrs Hancock said Stage 1 of the program provided funding to the former 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of concern in Sydney.
“Now I am delighted to extend financial support to our small rural and border councils and communities,” Mrs Hancock said.
“I also want to congratulate our councils for their dedication and commitment to continuing to support their communities during such unprecedented challenges.”
Minister for Multiculturalism Natalie Ward said the NSW Government is dedicated to supporting those in need during the pandemic and building community resilience.
“These grants will help ensure critical support for some of our most vulnerable living in our rural and border areas, including Indigenous communities, migrants, seniors, and people with a disability,” Mrs Ward said.
“These council-led initiatives could include caseworkers, bilingual workers, mental health support, communication activities to reach target groups, emergency meals, transport to vaccination hubs, and small business assistance, particularly in tourism and hospitality.
“As COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease and our vaccination rates increase, it’s paramount that we have the right support in place across our rural and border communities to ensure no one is left behind.”
The program will provide funding to the following councils: