What Queensland’s proposed workers' compensation changes could mean for injured workers

What's changing?

The proposed reforms would:

• make it harder for workers with psychological injuries to have claims accepted
• reduce protections currently available to first responders with PTSD
• dramatically shorten the timeframe for challenging rejected claims
• give insurers new powers to revisit and terminate accepted claims
• introduce new reporting obligations for injured workers, backed by penalties
• allow prospective employers to access a worker's compensation history with consent

These changes shift more responsibility and risk onto injured workers while reducing important safeguards.

A higher hurdle for workers with psychological injuries

One of the most significant proposed changes relates to psychological injury claims.

Currently, a worker may be entitled to compensation where their employment is a significant contributing factor to their psychological injury. The Bill proposes raising that threshold so employment must instead be the major significant contributing factor.

The stated aim is to reduce the number of psychological injury claims entering the scheme.

But when there’s growing recognition of psychosocial hazards and the impact workplace stress, bullying, trauma and excessive workloads can have on mental health, limiting access to compensation risks shifting the burden onto injured workers rather than addressing the conditions that contribute to psychological harm in the first place.

First responders could lose important PTSD protections

Queensland's police officers, paramedics, firefighters and other first responders face traumatic events as part of their working lives.

Existing PTSD protections recognise those realities by making it easier for first responders suffering from work-related post-traumatic stress disorder to access compensation.

The proposed changes would weaken some of those protections by making it easier for claims to be disputed when other factors may have also contributed to a person's mental health condition.

Importantly, this proposal goes beyond recommendations made during the Independent Review. For workers who put themselves in harm's way to protect the community, any reduction in support raises significant concerns.

Injured workers will have less time to challenge decisions

If a workers' compensation claim is rejected, workers currently have three months to seek a review of that decision. Under the proposed reforms, that period would be reduced to just 20 business days. That's a dramatic reduction.

Many injured workers are already dealing with medical treatment, financial stress and uncertainty about their future. Psychological injury claims often take longer to review because of the complexity of the issues involved.

Reducing the timeframe may mean some workers miss their opportunity to challenge an incorrect decision altogether.

An accepted claim may no longer stay accepted

Workers generally expect that once a claim has been accepted, they can rely on that decision.

The Bill proposes giving insurers a new power to revisit accepted claims and terminate compensation if they later decide the claim would not have been approved had certain "material information" been considered.

Rather than referring disputes about factual errors to an independent regulator, the proposal would allow the insurer itself to make the decision to stop compensation.

An accepted claim should mean something, since injured workers need certainty and confidence that support won't simply be withdrawn months or years later.

More red tape, with serious consequences

From 1 January 2027, workers receiving compensation under new claims would be required to provide monthly work notices.

Failure to comply could result in payments being suspended. In some circumstances, workers could face penalties or even be deemed to have committed fraud.

While accountability is important, injured workers are often navigating complex medical, legal and administrative systems at the same time.

Additional reporting obligations create another hurdle for people who may already be struggling.

Should a compensation claim follow someone into their next job?

Another controversial proposal would allow prospective employers, with a worker's written consent, to obtain information about that person's workers' compensation and damages claim history. Supporters may argue this promotes transparency.

However, workers may feel they have little choice but to consent if they want to remain in contention for a job. A past compensation claim should not become a barrier to future employment opportunities.

Workers who have exercised their legal rights after suffering an injury deserve the chance to move forward without fear that their claim history will be held against them.

Why these changes matter for Queenslanders

The proposed reforms would make it harder to access compensation, harder to challenge decisions, easier for insurers to revisit accepted claims, and more burdensome for injured workers to navigate the system.

Each change may appear technical when viewed in isolation, but together, they represent a significant shift in the balance of power within Queensland's workers' compensation system.

The Bill will now be considered by a parliamentary committee. As the debate continues, the key question remains the same:

Should the response to workplace injury be to make compensation harder to access, or to do more to prevent workers being harmed in the first place?

Your rights matter

Workplace injuries can have lasting impacts on your health, finances and future. Whatever happens with these proposed reforms, understanding your rights remains as important as ever.

If you've been injured at work and need guidance about a workers' compensation claim, our team can help you understand where you stand and the options available to you.