NSW Labor trying to woo conservative crossbenchers to pass controversial workers’ compensation bill

Chris Minns also warned that businesses would see premiums rise by 36% over three years to fund the scheme for the private sector. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

The NSW premier, Chris Minns, has warned a failure to pass his controversial workers compensation legislation would blow a $2bn hole in the state budget as Labor seeks to woo a coalition of conservative crossbenchers to pass the bill.

In parliament, the premier said if the changes to curtail psychological injury claims did not go through, an additional $2bn would be required from NSW taxpayers to fund the public service portion of the scheme.