Toowoomba, 8 September 2025

Charges 1-3 – Section 534 WCRA – Providing False Information

A worker crushed his hand in a wood splitter on his first day of a “work trial” for the defendant.  He had one finger amputated, and lost functionality in two other fingers as a result. A WorkCover application form was lodged by the Toowoomba Base Hospital on his behalf.

When WorkCover contacted the defendant to verify the claim, one of the owners of the defendant falsely told WorkCover on two occasions that they didn’t know the worker and that he had never worked for the defendant. WorkCover rejected the worker’s claim for compensation on this basis.

The worker applied for a review of that decision. During that review, the defendant provided two submissions to the Regulator’s Review Unit falsely stating that the worker had never worked for the defendant.

The Regulator’s Review Unit obtained other information which indicated the submissions from the defendant were false and returned the matter to WorkCover for reconsideration.

WorkCover then accepted the claim for compensation (approximately 9 months after the injury had occurred).

The defendant again applied for review of WorkCover’s new decision and provided a further false submission to the Regulator. WorkCover’s decision to accept the claim was ultimately confirmed.

The charges against the defendant related to the submissions made by it to the Regulator.

Employers should be honest in their dealings with WorkCover and the Workers’ Compensation Regulator.