WorkCover savings could pay for police - Gallacher

Proper management of WorkCover could create enough savings in a day to allow police to be stationed on the Peninsula, Central Coast-based Liberal MLC Mr Mike Gallacher has claimed.

"Proper management of the WorkCover Scheme could save $3.17 million each day," according to Mr Gallacher who is Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations.

This was the daily deficit of WorkCover operations paid by the government.

A day's savings "could fund a year's salary for 79 additional Central Coast Police, some of whom could be stationed on the Peninsula", he said.

"Police stations such as the Umina shopfront are non-operational.

"Woy Woy no longer has any permanent general duties police.

"A police probationary constable receives a basic salary of around $40,000."

Mr Gallacher said: "Just one daily deficit increase of $3.17 million equals the yearly pay for around 79 probationary constables."

The Workcover deficit was the shortfall between the premiums collected from businesses and the total cost of liabilities from workers compensation claims, Mr Gallacher said.

"The scheme is already technically bankrupt.

"If it actually went bankrupt, the Government would have to either reduce benefits for injured workers, or radically increase premiums for employers or fund the shortfall from taxpayer funds - with money that could have provided additional police in areas like the Central Coast.

"We have already reached the stage where local businesses are having to pay for security guards due to insufficient police in our area.

"An injection of an additional 79 police would dramatically alter this situation for the better," Mr Gallacher said.

Media release, October 2