Australia: Minister Rishworth announces Comcare reforms and faces migration policy scrutiny

Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth has announced plans to reform the Comcare Scheme, the federal workers’ compensation system for public servants. Rishworth stated that the current legislation, established in 1988, is outdated and has not kept pace with modern work environments, particularly regarding psychosocial hazards and cognitive demands.

The proposed reforms aim to prioritize early intervention and streamline claims processes to help injured workers return to the workforce more quickly. Rishworth noted that the current system lacks the emphasis on early support found in some state-level schemes.

Separately, Rishworth is facing scrutiny regarding the government’s migration overhaul. While Labor intends to reduce backpacker visas by nearly 40,000 per year to meet specific net migration targets, the National Farmers’ Federation and the Coalition have expressed concerns that these cuts could increase food prices and harm primary producers. During recent media appearances, Rishworth declined to provide specific details on whether the government had modeled the impact of these migration changes on wages or the broader economy.