❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Minister for Government Enterprises regarding compensation claims related to a bushfire, focusing on settlement fairness, outstanding claims, the role of a loss adjuster, and the government's promise of efficient claim processing.
AnsweredQoN 4951Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many compensation claims have been settled?
(2) Is the Minister satisfied that they have been settled fairly?
(3) How many compensation claims are still outstanding?
(4) How many affected land owners are yet to lodge a claim?
(5) Who is the insurer of Western Power?
(6) What arrangement exists between this insurer and Risk Cover with regard to liability and compensation for the fire?
(7) What role did loss adjuster Ron Norris have at his appointment in 2004?
(8) Has his role changed since then?
(9) If yes to (8), why was his role changed?
(10) Will the Minister please explain why Ron Norris has been instructed to no longer deal with at least one claimant?
(11) Is the Minister satisfied with the implementation of the Government's promise, made by Conservation and Land Management’s (CALM) Executive Director, on 4 February 2004 and after, that CALM had set up a ‘one stop shop so that affected land owners could have their claims dealt with efficiently and quickly?’
(12) In light of the time elapsed since the bushfire, the emotional stress suffered by fire victims and the 2004 Government promise, will the Minister ensure a review of all outstanding claims with a brief to avoid court proceedings?
(2) Is the Minister satisfied that they have been settled fairly?
(3) How many compensation claims are still outstanding?
(4) How many affected land owners are yet to lodge a claim?
(5) Who is the insurer of Western Power?
(6) What arrangement exists between this insurer and Risk Cover with regard to liability and compensation for the fire?
(7) What role did loss adjuster Ron Norris have at his appointment in 2004?
(8) Has his role changed since then?
(9) If yes to (8), why was his role changed?
(10) Will the Minister please explain why Ron Norris has been instructed to no longer deal with at least one claimant?
(11) Is the Minister satisfied with the implementation of the Government's promise, made by Conservation and Land Management’s (CALM) Executive Director, on 4 February 2004 and after, that CALM had set up a ‘one stop shop so that affected land owners could have their claims dealt with efficiently and quickly?’
(12) In light of the time elapsed since the bushfire, the emotional stress suffered by fire victims and the 2004 Government promise, will the Minister ensure a review of all outstanding claims with a brief to avoid court proceedings?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
28 August 2007
Responded by
Minister for Government Enterprises
Response time
82 days
Insurance Commission of Western Australia
(1) Forty One.
(2) Yes.
(3) Three.
(4) One.
(5) Lloyds of London Syndicate - D A Constable Syndicate
(6) Equal contribution.
(7) Mr Norris's role was to assess and quantify losses and make recommendations to RiskCover and Western Power, and to settle claims as authorised and directed by RiskCover and Western Power.
(8) No.
(9) Not applicable.
(10) The one claimant referred to was made a final settlement offer in July/August 2006. Consequently Mr Norris's role has concluded, so there is no point in him continuing to deal with that claimant.
(11) Please refer this part of the question to the Minister for the Environment.
(12) All outstanding claims are continuously reviewed on an ongoing basis. However, where RiskCover and Western Power are of the opinion based on expert legal and assessing advice that the damages sought by individual claimants are unreasonable, it will be necessary for such claims to be independently adjudicated by the Court. Every attempt is made by RiskCover and Western Power to avoid litigation but it is not appropriate to pay indemnity based compensation over and above what is assessed as being fair and reasonable by RiskCover and Western Power.
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(1) Forty One.
(2) Yes.
(3) Three.
(4) One.
(5) Lloyds of London Syndicate - D A Constable Syndicate
(6) Equal contribution.
(7) Mr Norris's role was to assess and quantify losses and make recommendations to RiskCover and Western Power, and to settle claims as authorised and directed by RiskCover and Western Power.
(8) No.
(9) Not applicable.
(10) The one claimant referred to was made a final settlement offer in July/August 2006. Consequently Mr Norris's role has concluded, so there is no point in him continuing to deal with that claimant.
(11) Please refer this part of the question to the Minister for the Environment.
(12) All outstanding claims are continuously reviewed on an ongoing basis. However, where RiskCover and Western Power are of the opinion based on expert legal and assessing advice that the damages sought by individual claimants are unreasonable, it will be necessary for such claims to be independently adjudicated by the Court. Every attempt is made by RiskCover and Western Power to avoid litigation but it is not appropriate to pay indemnity based compensation over and above what is assessed as being fair and reasonable by RiskCover and Western Power.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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