Independent inquiry - State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA)
Independent inquiry into the complaints handling process at SIRA has been established.
An independent inquiry into the complaints handling process at the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) was established under section 82 of the Government Sector Employment Act 2013 in July 2024. The Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, the Hon. Jihad Dib MP, appointed the Hon. Alan Robertson SC, a former judge of the Federal Court of Australia, to conduct the inquiry.
On 6 December 2024, Mr Robertson, provided his Report into certain matters relating to the State Insurance Regulatory Authority to the Minister.
In accordance with section 82 of the Government Sector Employment Act 2013, the Report and information about any action to be taken by the Government in response to the Report is required to be tabled in each House of Parliament within 30 sitting days.
Terms of Reference
Read the full Terms of Reference.
Summary
The Inquiry reviewed SIRA’s handling of and response to three ongoing and long-running complaints arising from workers compensation claims, including by:
- identifying the relevant facts and circumstances surrounding the complaints
- making findings as to the allegations made by the complainants in relation to SIRA
- making findings as to the adequacy of SIRA’s response to the complaints
- making recommendations as to any actions that SIRA or the Department of Customer Service (DCS) should take in response to the complaints.
The Inquiry also considered a number of other complex complaints.
The Inquiry has made recommendations about reforms to improve how SIRA and DCS handle such complaints in future and about reforms to improve how SIRA ensures compliance with workers compensation legislation, in relation to complaints by people injured at work.
The Government is considering the Inquiry's Report and recommendations.