Instead of a three person panel which includes a labour representative, the appeal will be heard by a lawyer.
Lawrence McKay of the Federation's Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Committee tells Tide News the Workers Compensation Board has found itself on the losing end of appeals which means its policies have been contravening the Act. He suspects these changes are mean't to change the outcomes.
McKay predicts the changes will make appealing compensation decisions more expensive and could be beyond the reach of injured workers who are not unionised.
