In the lead up to the run to the polls, the government pledged that if re-elected, it would ensure Tasmania had the best possible workers’ compensation system as a priority in its next term. This followed an announcement from the Tasmanian Greens that it would remove the 30 per cent Whole Person Impairment threshold and introduce a “fairer” test to assess the effect of the injury on the individual worker.

Law Council president John North said the move by the state government was an “acknowledgment that Tasmania’s workers; compensation laws are unfair and need an overhaul”.

Labor promised a formal review of the workers’ compensation system, including an analysis of the 30 per cent threshold, within the first three months of the next parliamentary term. Leanne Topfer, president of the Law Society of Tasmania, hoped the government would also consider introducing the subjective test suggested by the Greens.

“This latest development is great news for Tasmanian workers, who are a step closer to seeing fairness restored to what is currently draconian legislation,” she said.