This was published 8 months ago
State’s highest paid public servant quits troubled insurer
By Alexandra Smith
The chief executive of icare, Richard Harding, has quit his $1 million-plus role at the state insurer as the agency has been ordered to rein in its ballooning expenses.
Harding, who earned more than $1 million in 2022-23, is the highest-paid public servant in NSW.
Richard Harding has quit as CEO of icare.
He was appointed in 2021, after the insurer, which provides workers’ compensation insurance to 3.6 million public and private sector employees in NSW, was the subject of intense scrutiny. A 2020 investigation by the Herald and ABC TV’s Four Corners revealed the underpayment of claims to injured workers while senior executives claimed almost $4 million in salaries and bonuses.
A subsequent parliamentary inquiry also exposed a litany of problems, with some staff members alleged to have stolen tables, televisions, crockery and iPads from its office.
However, the insurer has continued to be plagued with problems. Several sources not authorised to speak publicly, but with knowledge of icare matters, said there was a long-running internal investigation into bullying and harassment underway. The Herald asked icare about the investigation, but it did not respond to that question.
Harding will stay in his role for another six months and told staff on Wednesday that he intends to pursue board positions, which includes the board of Ansvar Australia which he recently joined.
In a statement, icare said Harding joined “when the organisation was in a period of crisis and under intense public scrutiny”.
“He has since implemented significant reform through transformation programs that have led to improved outcomes and set the organisation on the path to long-term sustainability,” the statement said.
The chair of icare, John Robertson, said Harding had “shown resilience during some challenging times, resetting the organisation’s focus, stabilising performance, and delivering on public expectations.”
The office of Work Health and Safety Minister Sophie Cotsis declined to comment.