Paving the way for future large companies, the Federal Court has allowed Optus to leave a state workcover scheme and join the Federal Government’s Comcare scheme.

After a short legal battle, the Victorian WorkCover Authority’s (VWA) application to prevent Optus from joining the Comcare scheme as a self-insurer was dismissed by the court, with costs awarded to Optus.

The move should make it easier for large companies to make the transition to a single scheme and cut costs imposed by the fact that national companies like Optus have to deal with as many as 10 major workers’ comp schemes.

VWA spokesman Bernie Dean told Sunrise Exchange News the authority is disappointed with the result, but will “consider our options”. He indicated the authority has been encouraged by discussions with the State Government “about how changes in our own laws could help”.

“We took this case on because, like many others we were concerned that the Commonwealth were undermining our workplace safety and compensation system,” he said.