"It is clear from the evidence that the performance of the Nominal Insurer has been affected by a fall in return to work rates and an increase in claim costs, including medical expenses," Mr Fang said. "It is very normal practice to be in a board meeting," he said. 14QUT Centre for Decent Work and Industry, No. Contact icare. "That is a dreadful look for an organisation that manages many billions of dollars of what is in substance public money," he said. Chairman of icare, John Robertson, said he acknowledged the mistakes of the past and found the outcomes of the review "thorough, fair and provided key areas of improvement.". "There's a pattern here of contractors who win contracts with icare, providing you with social gifts," Mr Mookhey said, asking if Mr Bhatia understood the perception that the culture of icare "was not in best keeping with the practices of the needs of our public sector?". Parliamentary Inquiry into allegations of bullying 0.41 MB(pdf) | Uploaded 27 Apr 2021 Credit:Peter Braig. Please enable scripts and reload this page. The links to the Liberal party extend to the office of Perrottet, with the Herald investigation revealing that icare was paying the salaries of two ministerial staff, including senior policy adviser Ed Yap, who is a former US Republican party operative. This inquiry was self-referred on 23 June 2022 to inquire into and report on the appointment of Mr John Barilaro as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas and any other related matter. Nagle was questioned about icare contracts, including a number of contracts with Nagle's former colleagues at . Please try again later. passed by NSW Parliament in August 2015. icare's poor 2.4 The second review, . At icare, we provide insurance and care services to the businesses, people and communities of NSW. A report in 2019 from the State Insurance Regulation Authority (Sira), however, laid out a damning picture of the competence of icares management. 1University of Sydney - Australian Women's Working Futures Research Project, No. 36Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), No. 2, Quadrennial Review of the Audit Office of NSW 2022, Options to improve access to existing and alternate accommodation to address the social housing shortage, Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Infrastructure Contributions) Bill 2021, Integrity of the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme, Granting of contract number OoS17/18-021 by the Office of Sport, Review of the Standing and Sessional Orders, Mobile speed camera enforcement programs in NSW, Further inquiry into the regulation of building standards, Examination of selected Auditor-General's Financial Audit Reports 2020, Coal and Gas Legislation Amendment (Liverpool Plains Prohibition) Bill 2021, Petroleum (Onshore) Amendment (Cancellation of Zombie Petroleum Exploration Licences) Bill 2021, Protection of the Environment Operations Amendment (Clean Air) Bill 2021, Tax Administration Amendment (Combating Wage Theft) Bill 2021, Citizen's Right of Reply - Mr Benjamin Geary, Fourteenth General Meeting with the Valuer General, Support for rural and regional learner drivers, Long term sustainability and future of the timber and forest products industry, Impact of the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link, Environmental planning instruments (SEPPs), 2021 review of annual and other reports of oversighted bodies, Mutual Recognition (New South Wales) Amendment Bill 2021, Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Amendment (Plastics Reduction) Bill 2021, Health and wellbeing of kangaroos and other macropods in New South Wales, Acquisition of land in relation to major transport projects, 2021 Review of the annual reports and other matters of the Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People and the Office of the Children's Guardian, Review of the Health Care Complaints Commission 2019-20 annual report, Development of a hydrogen industry in New South Wales, Parliamentary Privilege and the use of investigatory and intrusive powers, Local Land Services Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2020, Execution of search warrants by the Australian Federal Police (No. Insurance and Care NSW (icare), along with SafeWork NSW in place of the dissolved WorkCover Authority. The investigation reports that there are now 20,000 more people off work long-term than before the new model was brought in. The Information and Privacy Commission has also launched an audit of icare, with the first stage completed and focused on the history of non-compliance with Gipa Act. A portion of these issues can be tied to the decision icare made to move to a new claims model and a single agent, EML, to manage all the new claims. Professor Mary O'Kane AC and Michael Fuller APM were engaged to lead the Inquiry. The State Insurance and Care Governance Act 2015 (SICG Act) abolished SRWS and created three new entities (icare, SIRA and SafeWork NSW) to replace SRWS', of which WorkCover was an agency, regulatory and insurance functions. 7 - Planning and Environment, Portfolio Committee No. Tender bundle 001 S. Cartwright tabled by the Hon Daniel Mookhey MLC, Tender bundle 001 B. 1 - Select Committee on the impact of technological and other change on the future of work and workers in New South Wales - The gig economy - First report, Upper House committee releases report on the future of work, calls for more regulation of workplace surveillance, Professor Ariadne Vromen, Professor of Public Administration, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, Dr Josh Healy, Senior Lecturer in Employment Relations, The University of Newcastle, Ai Group Submission, tendered by Ms Nicola Street, Mr Anthony Wing, Point to Point Commissioner, From Ms Kitty Lu, Compliance Manager and Public Relations Manager, EASI Group - clarifying her evidence to the committee, 'Blue Harvest' report - tendered by Mr Michael Buckland, McKell Institute, 'Insecure Work and Portable Entitlements' report - tendered by Mr Michael Buckland, McKell Institute, University of Sydney Australian Women's Working Futures, Professor Rae Cooper - Dual-earner parent couples work and care during COVID-19. Icare has had a separate conflict of interest policy and a gifts and benefits policy since 2016. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Former icare chair Michael Carapiet.Luis Ascui Mr Nagle appears in a promotional video for Guidewire on the company's website. Inquiries Reports and Government Responses Budget Estimates Legislation Review Digests Home Committees Inquiries Standing Committee on Law and Justice 2020 Review of the Workers Compensation Scheme This review commenced on 18 March 2020. This program provides an immersive online and virtual reality learning experience for young construction workers. 19Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (NSW Branch), No. But he distanced himself from the issue, and said it was the board's responsibility to approve travel. But the report by Sira was searing in its assessment of the new system, saying it has been under-resourced since the inception and that staff lack the skills and experience for technical case management of personal injury claims. Mr Bhatia was the first chief executive officer and managing director of icare when it formed in September 2015, before he left in January 2018. The investigation also revealed that marketing firm IVE Group was awarded millions of dollars in contracts without going to tender. Key points: Regional healthcare hearings will not be live streamed A spokesperson for Perrottet said Robertson would be working to address some of the issues raised by the investigation. Australias largest workers compensation scheme, icare, has been surrounded by scandals for months. In 2019 alone, icare spent $845m on medical expenses, leading to an increase in liabilities for the schemeand higher premiums. Go to page 8. https://lnkd.in/gGT44Gtb "Fixing the NSW workers' compensation scheme is an urgent priority. icare's poor What followed was a flurry of further investigations, parliamentary inquiries, resignations and intense pressure. Parliamentary Secretaries in the Assembly, NSW Legislative Assembly Practice, Procedure and Privilege, Execution of search warrants by the Australian Federal Police No. Read more: Martin Hoffman told NSW government icare issues needed 'decisive engagement' in 2019, emails show. Mr Carapiet responded: "That is incorrect, Mr Shoebridge.". "You never held the executive to account for the failings did you? Section 31 of the SICG Act repealed the Safety Return to Icare has disputed the underpayment figures, saying its initial estimates have been revised down significantly and it estimates 5000 to 10,000 workers have been underpaid up to $10 million in total. Mr McDougall said his review showed proper probity procedures were not followed. The committee made available an online . 25State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), No. "And in a way that did not ensure that the NI was obtaining value for the money (derived, of course, substantially from premiums paid by employers) that it spent.". Mr McDougall said Mr Perrottet had declined to beinterviewed for the review. 8Workers Compensation Independent Review Office (WIRO), No. The Commission is investigating whether, between 2012 and 2018, the Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP engaged in conduct that: The parliamentary inquiry will begin public hearings from March 19, with several expected to be held throughout regional NSW. "You have already heard that I have denied saying that. ", The review by Challis and Company also found non-executive directors believed Mr Nagle was no longer "the right leader," describing the state of icare during the height of the pandemic as "potentially perilous.". He has been tasked with a number of priorities including refreshing the Board and leading the recruitment of a new CEO and overseeing the independent cultural review of the organisation, which is already underway.. 5Business NSW (formerly NSW Business Chamber), No. 11Dr Tom Barratt, Dr Caleb Goods, Dr Brett Smith and Dr Alex Veen, No. Mr Bhatia told the hearing he had known senior figures at Capgemini in a social context for "three or four years" before they became the sole successful bidder. "Clearly the problems with the system go well beyond any one executive, the entire icare board needs to be held accountable," Mr Shoebridge said. Witnesses can be subpoenaed to appear before the inquiry if they refuse to attend voluntarily. 12 The Hon Melinda Pavey MP, . This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. "icare's executives accepted gifts and benefits from time to time. ", Greens MLC and committee member David Shoebridge.Credit:Kate Geraghty. icare's poor The inquiry heard Guidewire has received millions of dollars in contracts from icare to provide claims management software. "Securing the review has been a top priority for me and the government, and I thank Mr McDougall for his work in delivering a report that will ultimately support better outcomes for injured workers and employers in NSW," Mr Perrottet said. Mr McDougall said while there was no evidence of criminality or corruption, the execution of the program was what he called "sloppy". The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will hold a further public inquiry in Operation Keppel from 10:00 am on Monday 18 October 2021. icare, in partnership with TAFE NSW recently won a Good Design Award for our joint project 'Working Safely at Heights' Online and Virtual Reality Training Program. It also emerged that Mr Nagle failed to declare in the agency's annual report business-class flights to Las Vegas to speak at a conference organised by software company Guidewire in October 2018. A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry into access to health services is under fire for limiting public access to regional hearings. Professor Rae Cooper - Gender equality and paid parental leave in Australia: A decade of giant leaps or baby steps? Sign up to The Sydney Morning Heralds newsletter here, The Ages here, Brisbane Times here, and WAtodays here. Former icare CEO John Nagle was the focus of an internal review. Perrottets office also told the Guardian he has enlisted supreme court judge Robert McDougall, QC to review icare, saying it will be a root and branch examination to ensure public confidence in our workers compensation system. Greens MP David Shoebridge said if "Mr Perrottet was doing his job, he would have known Mr Nagle had endorsed Guidewire just months before he went on a trip to Las Vegas paid for by that same company.". Save. Half-Yearly Review 2022-23 The Half-Yearly Review was delivered on 7 February 2023. "The icare board is committed to getting the organisation focused back on what it was set up to do caring for injured workers and road users and supporting NSW businesses, homeowners and the NSW government," he said. Former icare CEO John Nagle was the focus of an internal review. A joint investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and ABC's Four Corners revealed icare had underpaid as many as 52,000 injured workers by up to $80 million in compensation. revelations it underpaid thousands of injured workers by up to $80 million. previously revealed the tender process took less than three weeks. A former chief executive officer of embattled state insurer icare took home more than $1.2 million in his final year in the role, making him the highest paid public servant in NSW history. Go to page 8. https://lnkd.in/gGT44Gtb "Fixing the NSW workers' compensation scheme is an urgent priority. The Independent Review was conducted by retired Supreme Court Judge, the Hon Robert McDougall QC. Upper house Greens MP David Shoebridge put it to Mr Carapiet that the board were "treated like mushrooms by the executives, given glossy PowerPoints, half baked reports, all spin.". The upper house committee on Tuesday also asked Mr Carapiet about whether he had signed off on late declarations for 42 gifts received by another former chief executive - Vivek Bhatia - such as lunches and breakfasts. NSW Parliament's Law and Justice Committee today tabled its 2020 review of the Workers' Compensation Scheme, following last year's revelations uncovered by a joint ABC and Sydney Morning Herald investigation, showing hundreds of millions of dollars in losses and the underpayment of thousands of injured workers. A NSW parliamentary inquiry hears grievances from families and staff about the delivery of healthcare Some staff say they cannot take holidays and have to bring sick children to work because of a lack of staff The State Government has promised to invest more in recruitment 1 - Select Committee on the impact of technological and other change on the future of work and workers in New South Wales - The gig economy - First report, Report No. Please try again later. The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. Chief executive of icare John Nagle resigned from the agency late on Monday, just hours after appearing before the inquiry where it emerged he had failed to properly declare that his wife had been given a contract with the agency. (Insurance and Care) NSW (icare) with the mandatory requirement to keep a contract register in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 . While this payout was sought it was never paid by icare. The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. "I do not wish to create that perception at all," Mr Carapiet said. Responding to why the 42 gifts were not disclosed at the time they were received Mr Bhatia said it was the responsibility of his assistant. Email: media@icare.nsw.gov.au. When he exited, Mr Bhatia's fixed remuneration was $820,000, in addition to a $410,000 incentive. The company has previously employed a former NSW Liberal minister and a major Liberal donor. Please note that the committee cannot investigate individual compensation claims as part of this review. Minister aware of concerns I intend to vote yes. Photograph: Michael Dodge/Getty Images Former icare CEO Vivek Bhatia giving evidence at the inquiry into the workers compensation scheme on Friday. The Information and Privacy Commission NSW found that since 2015, icare had not publicly registered 422 contracts each worth more than $150,000. Icare chairman Michael Carapiet will be called to give evidence at a parliamentary inquiry. This disaster was overseen by the Treasurer from day one," Mr Mookhey said. In the two years to 2020, the scheme suffered a net loss of more than $2.5 billion. . State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) CEO Carmel Donnelly has condemned the performance of icare in an appearance before a NSW Parliamentary inquiry and says she is concerned over the lack of progress on an action plan set out last year to improve performance. 5 - Regional NSW and Stronger Communities, Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Legislative Assembly Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, Legislative Assembly Committee on Law and Safety, Select Committee on the conduct of elections in New South Wales, Joint Standing Committee on the Office of the Valuer General, Legislative Assembly Committee on Community Services, Standing Committee on Parliamentary Privilege and Ethics, Committee on the Health Care Complaints Commission, Select Committee on the status of water trading in New South Wales, Select Committee on the Response to Major Flooding across New South Wales in 2022, Committee on the Ombudsman, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission and the Crime Commission, Select Committee on Puppy Farming in New South Wales, Select Committee on the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Bill 2021, Legislative Assembly Committee on Investment, Industry and Regional Development, Legislative Assembly Committee on Environment and Planning, Select Committee on Floodplain Harvesting, Select Committee on the coronial jurisdiction in New South Wales, Select Committee on the provisions of the Public Health Amendment (Registered Nurses in Nursing Homes) Bill 2020, Joint Select Committee on Coercive Control, Select Committee on the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, Joint Select Committee on the Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Religious Freedoms and Equality) Bill 2020, Select Committee on the High Level of First Nations People in Custody and Oversight and Review of Deaths in Custody, Select Committee on the impact of technological and other change on the future of work and workers in New South Wales, Select Committee on the Government's management of the Powerhouse Museum and other museums and cultural projects in New South Wales, Select Committee on Animal Cruelty Laws in New South Wales, Select Committee on the Proposal to Raise the Warragamba Dam Wall, Select Committee on the Use of Battery Cages for Hens in the Egg Production Industry, Joint Select Committee on Sydney's Night Time Economy. This inquiry was self-referred on 23 June 2022. Current Inquiries In this section Community Affairs Legislation Committee Human Rights (Children Born Alive Protection) Bill 2022 Community Affairs References Committee Concussions and repeated head trauma in contact sports Universal access to reproductive healthcare The extent and nature of poverty in Australia Economics Legislation Committee Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Our Morning Edition newsletter is a curated guide to the most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. A NSW parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday heard icare's interim executive for personal injury claims Rob Craig was the chairman of two other companies, one of which he did not declare in writing for three years. Whether a person is severely injured in the workplace or on our roads, icare supports their long-term care needs to improve quality of life, including helping people return to work. 4, Consideration of disputed claims of privilege as referred by the Clerk under standing order 54 (March 2023), Teacher shortages and education outcomes in New South Wales, Allegations of impropriety against agents of the Hills Shire Council and property developers in the region, Allegations of impropriety against agents of the City of Canterbury Bankstown Council, COVID-19 classification of the Minister for Health, Property Tax (First Home Buyer Choice) Bill 2022, Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Bill 2022, Recommendations made by the Independent Commission Against Corruption in its report 'Investigation into political donations facilitated by Chinese Friends of Labor in 2015', Review of Members Code of Conduct (2022), Consideration of disputed claims of privilege as referred by the Clerk under standing order 52B (September 2022), 2022 Review of the Lifetime Care and Support scheme, 2022 Review of the Compulsory Third Party insurance scheme, Special Report from the Public Accountability Committee concerning an unauthorised disclosure of in camera evidence, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage (Culture is Identity) Bill 2022, Impact of ambulance ramping and access block on the operation of hospital emergency departments in New South Wales, Appointment of Mr John Barilaro as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas, 2022 Review of the Workers Compensation scheme, Review of aspects of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988, Speed limits and road safety in regional NSW, Examination of the Auditor General's performance audit reports June - December 2020, Examination of selected Auditor-General's Financial Audit Reports 2021, Fifteenth General Meeting with the Valuer General, Consideration of disputed claims of privilege as referred by the House (May 2022), Improving crisis communications to culturally and linguistically diverse communities, Inquiry into Options for action against a suspended Member, Termination of the former Managing Director of TAFE NSW, Review of the Health Care Complaints Commission 2020-21 annual report, Status of water trading in New South Wales, Caps on third-party campaigners' electoral expenditure in s29(11) and s35 of the Electoral Funding Act 2018, Homelessness amongst older people aged over 55 in New South Wales, Response to major flooding across New South Wales in 2022, Review of the Code of Conduct for Members, 57th Parliament, Options for reform of the management of delegated legislation in New South Wales, Electronic Conveyancing (Adoption of National Law) Amendment Bill 2022, 2022 review of annual and other reports of oversighted bodies, Use of primates and other animals in medical research in New South Wales, 2022 review of the annual reports and other matters of the Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People and the Office of the Children's Guardian, Commencement of the Fisheries Management Amendment Act 2009, 2021 Inquiry into the approved charitable organisations under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979, Road Transport Amendment (Medicinal Cannabis-Exemptions from Offences) Bill 2021, Examination, publication and use of cabinet documents by Legislative Council committees, Review of the 2020-2021 Annual Reports of the ICAC and the Inspector of the ICAC, Technology and the agriculture and mining sectors, Adequacy of the funding allocation of the NSW Electoral Commission for the 2023 State General Election, Crimes Amendment (Display of Nazi Symbols) Bill 2021, Provisions of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021, Companion Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms) Bill 2021, Planning and delivery of school infrastructure in New South Wales, Examination of the Auditor General's performance audit reports August 2019 - June 2020, Proposal for a Compliance Officer for the NSW Parliament No.