OUTGOING Liberal MLA Giulia Jones will use her valedictory speech to call for more action to help frontline workers who suffer from post-traumatic stress injury.

Ms Jones will deliver her valedictory speech today (June 2) following last week’s announcement she is resigning from the Assembly after almost a decade as the member for Murrumbidgee and previously Molonglo.

She’s also set to introduce a bill designed to ensure that frontline workers are supported when they sustain mental injuries at work.

“While my time in the Assembly has come to an end, this issue remains as unfinished business for me,” Ms Jones.

“When one of our ambos or firies is seeking recognition of the mental injuries they’ve sustained protecting and serving our community, they are often told to prove their mental injuries are caused by their work.

“We all know they have been hurt on the job, and they should not have to prove that again and again.”

Ms Jones said the Public Sector Workers Compensation Fund Amendment Bill 2022 would require the minister to set a code of practice for any claim managers that the Territory uses to manage claims.

Under the bill, the minister would be required to release periodic independent reports on the claims manager’s performance in managing claims for mental injuries by frontline workers.

Ms Jones said the ACT’s public sector workers compensation scheme is unique amongst the states and territories, with the ACT holding a licence from the Commonwealth to self-insure within the Commonwealth’s Comcare scheme.

“I believe my bill is the most practical way for the Territory to ensure our frontline workers are supported when they sustain mental injuries at work, while still self-insuring under Comcare.”