Melbourne-based Austbrokers Phillips has expanded interstate, opening a workers’ compensation consultancy in Perth.

MD Troy Mansell says it will offer support and advice to businesses and provide workers’ compensation brokerage.

“Once we have established this business, we will also look at expanding it into more of a general insurance broking business,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

Austbrokers Phillips currently has national workers’ compensation clients who are serviced from Melbourne. “We just saw Perth as an opportunity to expand our business,” Mr Mansell said.

WA is attractive to the company because it is the biggest state in which workers’ compensation is brokered, he says. In NSW, Victoria and Queensland it is administered by government agencies.

The company has hired one workers’ compensation specialist, currently based in a serviced office. It plans to set up a permanent office targeting mining-related industries such as construction.