The chief executive officer (CEO) of the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), Adam Dent, has resigned from his position, marking the departure of the second CEO from New South Wales’ (NSW) embattled public insurance system. Dent’s resignation comes after a period of absence from his duties since January.
SIRA, the regulatory body overseeing workers’ compensation and motor accident claims, will see Dr. Petrina Casey continue to serve as the acting CEO while future arrangements are being determined.
Dent, a former State Emergency Services commissioner, had previously faced controversy in 2016 when he resigned from his role after being convicted of mid-range drink-driving. He took on the CEO role at SIRA in 2021, following his tenure as the head of the NSW Trustee & Guardian.
While the specific reasons for Dent’s departure remain undisclosed by SIRA’s spokesperson, sources within the authority, speaking anonymously, suggest that an internal investigation is underway.
This resignation follows closely on the heels of the departure of Richard Harding, the CEO of icare, the state insurer responsible for managing Australia’s largest workers’ compensation scheme. Harding resigned amid pressure to address the agency’s soaring expenses. Notably, Harding held the title of the state’s highest-paid public servant.
Dent’s tenure at SIRA lasted only two years before his resignation. His previous experience in emergency services, coupled with his leadership role, underscores the significance of his departure from the regulatory body.
The broader context of these resignations underscores ongoing challenges within NSW’s public insurance system. In 2020, an investigation by the Herald and ABC TV’s Four Corners uncovered issues of underpayment of claims to injured workers, juxtaposed against hefty executive compensations. Subsequent parliamentary inquiries further highlighted internal problems, including allegations of theft by staff members.
While Harding will remain in his position at icare for the next six months, he has expressed intentions to pursue board positions, including a recent appointment to the board of Ansvar Australia.
The departures of both Dent and Harding signal a pivotal moment for NSW’s public insurance sector, prompting questions about leadership stability and the ongoing efforts to address systemic issues within the industry.
