Minns, Mookhey cosy up to business owners at Cronulla workers comp forum
Small businesses in Mark Speakman’s stomping ground have called for the Coalition to back workers’ compensation reforms at a Labor forum, in a sign their traditional base has turned against them on home turf.
NSW
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Small businesses in Mark Speakman’s backyard have called for the Coalition to back workers’ compensation reforms to stop insurance premiums skyrocketing.
In a sign the Liberals’ traditional base has turned against them on their home turf, business owners packed out the Cronulla RSL on Friday morning for a business breakfast hosted by Premier Chris Minns, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Small Business Minister Steve Kamper.
A government source at the forum said the Labor MPs were “completely mobbed” by people complaining about the opposition’s decision to block workers compensation reforms.
It comes after hopes of reforming the broken scheme before the end of the financial year were dashed this week in parliament following attempts by the Coalition to water down the legislation.
Former Sutherland Shire Mayor Carmelo Pesce, who is also a local businessman, lashed out at his former party at the forum during a “question and answer” round with the MPs.
“I’m here as a business owner, and there’s a lot of business owners in this room … before I make a cup of coffee … my premium to iCare (insurance) is $50,000, that’s before I even make a cup of coffee, and that’s without any claims,” he said.
“I think that many people here know the opposition, my former team, and I think we need to talk to our MPs and explain that (the scheme) does need to be changed.”
Murmurs and laughter rippled through the crowd in response to the subtle dig following Mr Pesce’s public fallout with the Liberal Party before the last council election, where he successfully returned as an independent councillor.
In response to the comments, Mr Minns urged fellow business owners to share their stories with the media to help drive the reform, before he urged: “If you feel that this is an important reform, I promise you your voice will be heard right now.
“There’s nothing that’s going to be more powerful than a business owner who says directly to the media … we think these reforms are much needed, and if you want any evidence, we can show you it’ll make a difference.”
Seeing local business leaders cosy up with the premier in his own stomping ground has been another blow for Mr Speakman, who said the appearance in his Cronulla electorate was “clearly a political stunt”.
“Labor continues to misinform business about the Opposition’s position. We support reform to relieve pressure on premiums, but Labor joined the Greens to vote down our fairer alternatives to do this,” he said.
It comes after the Opposition’s attempts to lower the “impairment threshold” required for an injured worker to get lifetime payments failed to pass, referring the bill to a parliamentary inquiry.
The upper house committee voted to hold further inquiries into the proposed legislation until July.
Mr Mookhey revealed the delays would push the state’s workplace insurer further into deficit by $6 million each day, as opposed to previous estimates of $5 million per day.
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