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) has been established under Section 82 of the Government Sector Employment Act 2013.
The Minister has appointed the Hon. Alan Robertson SC, a former judge of the Federal Court of Australia, to conduct the inquiry.
Terms of Reference
Read the full Terms of Reference.
Summary
The inquiry will review 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; and
- making recommendations as to any actions that SIRA or the Department of Customer Service (DCS) should now take in response to the complaints.
The inquiry is also considering 12 other complex complaints, most of which were considered in a review of SIRA’s management of complaints which was completed in 2022.
The inquiry will recommend reforms to improve how SIRA and DCS handle such complaints in future and recommend reforms to improve how SIRA ensures compliance with workers compensation legislation, in relation to complaints by people injured at work, and related reforms.
The inquiry is required to report by 6 December 2024. The report of the inquiry, and information as to any action to be taken in relation to the subject of the report, is required to be tabled in each House of Parliament.
Contact
Contact the Inquiry by emailing independentsirainquiry@customerservice.nsw.gov.au.