More than 700 workers stopped receiving long-term workers’ compensation payments after Allan’s government limited access to mental health claims, confidential figures leaked to The age have revealed.

Internal state government data shows 726 workers were kicked out of the scheme in the first four months after Labor struck a deal to push through controversial changes restricting access to payments for mental health injuries such as stress and burnout. .

It comes after WorkCover confirmed a surplus of $389 million over the last financial year, raising questions about controversial reforms the Labor government said were needed to put it on a sustainable financial footing.

Although struggling to gain support from the Labor group and unionsThe state government reached a deal in March with the opposition that tightened eligibility and testing requirements, aiming to curb hefty payouts and skyrocketing premium increases for businesses.

Under the changes, workers were entitled to 13 weeks of interim payments to cover medical treatment, as well as access to enhanced psychosocial support services. Premiums for businesses have also been frozen for the 2024-25 financial year, under a deal to secure Coalition support.

The latest data, according to a source familiar with the figures, shows that only 152 (or 17 percent) of workers reassessed between March and July received a comprehensive disability rating (WPI) higher than 20 percent, allowing them stay with weekly payments. beyond 130 weeks, which was also revised as part of the WorkCover reorganization.

WPI is the measure used to determine the percentage of permanent disability resulting from a work injury.

During a parliamentary inquiry into the WorkCover changes, Luke Hilakari, secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council, provided the example of a 33-year-old emergency services worker who had witnessed multiple traumatic events, including a child being crushed to death.

Despite being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and struggling with suicidal thoughts, the worker had an assessed WPI of 15 percent.