Extract from the Advertiser Thurs May 31 2007.
Silence over Key Workcover query.
There were lots of questions about WorkCover's rapidly
deteriorating financial position yesterday but not the one that's been
bugging many observers. Industrial Relations Minister Michael Wright
appointed a new, high-powered board in 2003 with riding instructions to
fix its raft of problems. He installed high-profile liquidator Bruce
Carter as chairman to head the rescue mission, along with eight other
heavyweights including outspoken Business SA chief executive Peter
Vaughan. Mr Carter has more than 25 years experience in corporate
recovery and insolvency and has helped save Harris Scarfe, Balfours,
the National Wine Centre and the Basketball Association of SA.
Last November, after an exhaustive review, Mr Carter handed the
Government the board's remedy for winding back WorkCover's ballooning
unfunded liability, high employer levies and improving its low
retum-to-work rates.
Mr Wright sat on it until the end of March, when his response was
to announce that he had commissioned yet another inquiry to review his
own board's recommendations.
The question on everyone's lips in the business world is why didn't Mr Carter resign?
And now, given Business SA's strident criticisms of WorkCover in
its pre-Budget submission, can the peak employer body continue to
sanction Mr Vaughan staying on as a director?
Posted by Posted by Looking for a new chairman at 1:47 PM, 31/5/2007