The National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) has added its support to Queensland’s crackdown on WorkCover fraudsters announced this week.
The state government has formed a taskforce to weed out the cheats after it was swindled out of more than $250,000 in compensation in the last financial year.
NatRoad CEO Warren Clark said making a dodgy compensation claim is not a victimless crime.
“All businesses pay for these fraudsters through ever-increasing WorkCover premiums,” Clark said.
“The vast majority of heavy freight owner-operators are proactive about managing the health of their workforce and are effectively penalised when these premiums go up.”
Clark said these increases put even more pressure on their bottom line, which is already being hit hard by rising costs.
“That’s why we welcome the Crisafulli’s government’s crackdown. Fair checks and balances have to be in place to make sure the right assistance is given to people who genuinely need time off due to injury or illness.
“We were pleased to see the Queensland Government froze this year’s WorkCover premium cost, and hope this new push will help keep increases at a much more sustainable rate for the long run.”
The Crisafulli government said its reforms will ensure suspected fraud is reported quickly, investigations are coordinated, and staff are equipped to identify and stop rorts before they impact businesses and taxpayers.
Key initiatives include:
Fraud Taskforce: A joint effort with the Regulator to coordinate prevention, investigation, and prosecution strategies.
Fraud Tip-Off Form: A streamlined process for WorkCover employees to report suspected fraud.
Internal Fraud Hub: A dedicated internal resource offering guidance and information on fraud-related matters.
Fraud Awareness Week: Events and communications to educate staff on identifying and reporting fraud.
2026 Education Plan: A comprehensive program to enhance fraud awareness and reporting.
“We are sending a clear message – if you commit fraud, you will be caught, prosecuted, and held accountable,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for Industrial Relations Jarrod Bleijie.
In 2024–25, the Office of Industrial Relations investigated 164 suspected fraud cases and initiated six prosecutions under the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003.
“Queensland businesses and taxpayers deserve better and we remain steadfast in ensuring Queensland’s workers’ compensation scheme is fair, sustainable, and protected, delivering confidence for workers, employers and taxpayers,” Bleijie said.
The initiatives come just months after the state government announced it would not raise WorkCover premiums this financial year, under new WorkCover Queensland leadership appointed by the government.
The WorkCover board chose to freeze the average premium rate of $1.343 per $100 of wages, after discounts, providing certainty for businesses and protecting more workers.
The state government said it continues to offer the lowest average premium rate of any centrally funded state or territory.
