Critical changes to workers compensation subcontractors in WA from July 2024. Learn how to protect your business from liability claims, understand the legal grey areas, and ensure your subcontractors have proper coverage. Includes real claim examples and 3 essential action steps for employers.

Surefire Strengthens Goldfields Presence with Permanent Kalgoorlie Team Surefire Insurance Brokers is a specialist Goldfields insurance broker with a permanent team now based in Kalgoorlie When your business runs on red dirt and diesel, you need a Goldfields insurance broker who speaks the same language and actually shows up when it counts. That’s why Surefire Insurance Brokers has strengthened its Goldfields presence with Michael Aitken now permanently based in Kalgoorlie, backed by a team of specialists across Claims management, pricing, client solutions, and product innovation. Not admin support but the right people who negotiate with insurers, design cover that actually fits, and fight for you when things go sideways. This isn’t about opening an office and hoping for the best. It’s about building on our Goldfields foundation with the kind of permanent, specialist support that matches the scale and stakes of the work happening across the region every single day. Why a Local Goldfields Insurance Broker Matters Here’s what most brokers don’t tell you. When you’re operating heavy machinery in remote locations, dealing with complex contractor relationships, and managing genuine catastrophic risk, a phone call to a distant metro office doesn’t always cut it. You need someone who: Understands the difference between a drill rig breakdown and a drill rig liability claim Can walk a site and spot the gaps in your contractual cover Knows what “fit for purpose” means when you’re insuring a fleet working FIFO rosters across multiple sites Can be there in person when something goes sideways, not just email you a claims form   The Goldfields region continues to be one of Australia’s most significant mining centres, producing almost 70 percent of all gold in Australia and supporting thousands of jobs across drilling, blasting, earthmoving, and mining services. As a dedicated Goldfields insurance broker, we understand that operations of this scale require insurance that matches the stakes. That’s the standard we’re building in Kalgoorlie, and it’s backed by the kind of team that doesn’t learn about mining from a handbook. The Team Behind the Promise Leading our Goldfields division is Andrija Niketic, a highly respected broking professional with deep expertise in industrial and technical insurance. He’s joined by Kalgoorlie-based Michael Aitken, who knows the region’s operations and has deep knowledge of the industries in the area. They are supported by Michaela Barry, Luke Riou and Lee Houreau who are widely trusted by our existing client base for their hands-on approach and industry knowledge. This team has been shaped and mentored by Geoff O’Regan, whose broking legacy in the Goldfields stretches back to 1997. That’s not just experience, it’s institutional knowledge about what works, what fails, and what clients actually need when the pressure’s on. We’ve also made seven strategic appointments across pricing, client solutions, and product innovation. These aren’t admin roles. They’re specialists who ensure our Goldfields clients get the same market access, negotiating power, and claims support as our largest accounts. Andrija Niketic Senior Account Executive Michael Aitken Account Executive Michaela Barry Assistant Broker Luke Riou Account Executive Lee Houareau Assistant Broker What This Actually Means for Your Operation If you’re running equipment, moving materials, or providing services to the mining and resources sector in the Goldfields, here’s what you get with a specialist Goldfields insurance broker on the ground: Face-to-face risk reviews. Not a phone call. Actual site visits where we identify gaps in cover before they become problems. Faster response when it matters. When a claim happens or a contract requires urgent insurance proof, you’re dealing with someone local who understands the urgency. Insurance that fits mining operations. We’ve built purpose-designed programmes for drilling and blasting, mobile plant, earthmoving, and mining services – not generic policies with mining “added on.” Access to the best markets. Powered by Steadfast Group, Australasia’s largest broker network, we bring you options from leading insurers and access to exclusive policies that generic brokers simply can’t offer. Claims-first support. The real test of any broker is what happens after something goes wrong. Our team knows how to manage mining-related claims because we’ve been doing it for over 25 years. Why We’re Doing This Let’s be clear, the Goldfields isn’t new territory for Surefire, we’ve been insuring operations here for years. But as our clients have grown, so have the risks, the contract requirements, and the complexity of getting insurance that actually protects what you’ve built. As a dedicated Goldfields insurance broker, we understand that generic brokers treat mining like any other industry. They don’t understand why a $50,000 faulty workmanship limit won’t help when flyrock damages infrastructure, or why your public liability needs to automatically cover the Principal, or why gaps between equipment and liability policies can leave you exposed on multi-contractor sites. We do. And now we’ve put the team in place to prove it. If Your Business Matters to You, It Matters to Us Whether you’re an established contractor with a fleet of gear or a growing business looking to tender for larger work, the right insurance isn’t just about ticking a box, it’s about having the confidence to take on bigger contracts, meet site requirements faster, and know you’re protected if something goes wrong. Because in mining and resources, the stakes are too high and the margins too tight to trust your insurance to someone who doesn’t get it. If your business runs on red dirt and diesel, let’s talk about cover that’s built for it.

Important: Corporate Travel Advisory – War Risk & Coverage The unfolding situation and impacts on travel insurance Due to the current geopolitical climate in the Middle East and other regions experiencing heightened instability, we strongly urge all corporate travel clients to review their coverage before booking or departing on any business travel. As your insurance broker, our priority is ensuring your people are protected and right now, that means having an important conversation before travel plans are confirmed. Why Your Standard Policy May Not Be Enough Many corporate travel insurance policies contain exclusions that are easy to overlook in normal circumstances but become critically important during periods of global unrest. Travel to regions affected by war, armed conflict, or active government travel advisories can trigger these exclusions, often leaving travellers without the cover they expect. Medical ExpensesHospital and treatment costs may not be covered in conflict-affected regions. Emergency EvacuationEvacuation cover can be excluded when a government advisory is in place. Trip CancellationDisruption claims may be denied if travel proceeded against official warnings. Personal LiabilityLiability cover can be voided in high-risk or sanctioned destinations. What You Should Do Before You Travel 1. Check before you bookIf there is any uncertainty about the safety of a destination, including stopovers and transit points, contact us before making any booking. 2. Review government travel advisoriesCheck the official travel advisory for your destination. Many insurers will not respond to claims if travel proceeded against a “Do Not Travel” rating. 3. Contact us if your staff are already travellingIf any of your employees are currently in or transiting through an affected region, reach out to us immediately so we can clarify your position. We Are Here to Help We are actively monitoring the situation and are available to review your policy, liaise with your insurer, and confirm your coverage before any travel proceeds.  The right time to ask questions is before departure, not after an incident occurs.  Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our team who are ready help.

Your Employees Can Now Legally Ignore Your Calls (The Right To Disconnect) New workplace laws just rolled out that every WA business owner needs to know about Every small business owner in WA just got a wakeup call. As of Monday, your employees can legally turn their backs on calls and texts after they have knocked off from work. Fair Work just announced that employees working for companies with less than 15 staff now have the legal right to ignore your calls, emails, and texts after hours. Before you panic, this doesn’t mean your team can suddenly ghost you whenever they feel like it. But it does mean the rules of engagement have changed, and smart business owners need to understand what this means for their operations and their insurance needs. What Actually Happened The right to disconnect laws were already in place for bigger companies since last year. Now they’re hitting small businesses too. Your employees can legally refuse to monitor, read, or respond to work contact outside their normal hours unless refusing would be unreasonable. Think of it like a workplace boundary that finally has some legal teeth behind it. Your staff don’t have to be glued to their phones 24/7 anymore, but there are still times when they might need to pick up. For WA businesses, this creates some unique challenges. Mining services companies managing FIFO workers across different time zones, tourism operators in Margaret River dealing with weekend bookings, or agricultural businesses in the Wheatbelt coordinating seasonal harvests all need to think carefully about how these new rules apply to their operations. When Can Your Team Actually Ignore You The law isn’t black and white here, which is probably good news for business owners. Whether your employee can reasonably ignore you depends on several factors: Why you’re contacting them – Is the building on fire or did you just remember a random task? What their job involves – A manager has different responsibilities than a part time admin worker Their personal situation – Single parent juggling school pickup versus someone living alone How you’re contacting them – Sending 15 texts at midnight is different from one polite email Whether they get paid extra – On call allowances or overtime rates matter here The key word everyone keeps using is “unreasonable.” If your employee refuses contact unreasonably, they could face consequences. But if you’re constantly badgering staff about non urgent matters at 9pm on weekends, you might find yourself facing a Fair Work dispute. The Casual Employee Changes Too While everyone’s talking about the right to disconnect, another change happened on the same day that affects many WA businesses. Casual employees who’ve worked for you for at least 12 months can now ask to become permanent staff if they believe they’re no longer truly casual. This creates additional insurance considerations around wrongful dismissal and discrimination claims if you handle these requests poorly. The Insurance Reality Check Nobody’s Talking About Before we dive into the details, let’s address the elephant in the room that most business advisors won’t mention. These workplace changes create fresh insurance risks that could hit your bottom line hard if you’re not prepared. Employment Practices Liability just became critical for every small business. If you handle the right to disconnect poorly and face Fair Work action, you’re looking at legal costs that could reach tens of thousands. Most standard business policies don’t automatically cover disputes arising from these new workplace rights. Professional Indemnity coverage also needs reviewing. When you can’t reach key staff during a client emergency and something goes wrong, your existing policy limits might not account for these new communication constraints. Directors and Officers Insurance matters too if you’re a company director. Making decisions that breach employee rights around disconnecting could expose you personally to legal action. The smart money is on getting ahead of both the legal requirements AND the insurance implications before problems develop. The Smart Business Owner’s Game Plan Fair Work isn’t trying to make your life harder. They’re actually encouraging everyone to have grown up conversations about when and how after hours contact works in your business. Start with honest conversations. Sit down with your team and talk through what “reasonable” looks like in your specific business. A plumbing emergency service operates differently from an accounting firm. Get everyone on the same page about expectations. Document your agreements. Once you’ve worked out the ground rules, put them in writing. This protects both you and your employees if disputes arise later. Review your insurance coverage. Talk to your broker about how these changes might affect your existing policies. You might need additional employment practices coverage or adjustments to your professional indemnity limits. Plan for genuine emergencies. Work out who needs to be contactable for real crises and make sure they’re properly compensated for that availability. This isn’t about never being able to reach anyone – it’s about being reasonable. Getting Your Coverage Right Now that you understand the risks, here’s how to protect your business properly. Review your current policies with your broker. The standard small business package you bought three years ago probably doesn’t account for right to disconnect disputes or casual conversion claims. Consider additional Employment Practices coverage if you don’t already have it. This isn’t just about big corporations anymore – small businesses face the same legal risks when workplace laws change. Update your Professional Indemnity limits if your business relies on after hours availability for client service. You need coverage that reflects the new reality of limited staff contact options. Bottom Line for WA Business Owners These changes aren’t about making business harder to run. They’re about creating clearer boundaries that actually benefit everyone when handled properly. Happy employees are more productive employees, and clear expectations reduce workplace disputes. The smart move is to get ahead of this rather than waiting for problems to develop. Have the conversations with your team, review your insurance coverage, and make sure you’re protected against the new risks these laws create. Remember, the Fair Work