❓ The Treasurer provides an update on the implementation of the Motor Vehicle (Catastrophic Injuries) Bill 2016, highlighting progress, support, and commitment to managing costs and informing the public.
AnsweredQoN 159Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MOTOR
VEHICLE (CATASTROPHIC INJURIES) BILL 2016
159. Mr P. ABETZ to the
Treasurer:
Can the Treasurer please update the house on the
implementation of expanded motor vehicle injury insurance to provide lifetime
care and support for people catastrophically injured in motor vehicle
accidents?
VEHICLE (CATASTROPHIC INJURIES) BILL 2016
159. Mr P. ABETZ to the
Treasurer:
Can the Treasurer please update the house on the
implementation of expanded motor vehicle injury insurance to provide lifetime
care and support for people catastrophically injured in motor vehicle
accidents?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question and his commitment to the
issue. I am pleased to announce that the government is making good progress in
implementing its commitment to helping people who are injured in motor vehicle
accidents and who have suffered catastrophic
injury and do not have access to the existing compulsory third party system
that is based on fault. The Motor Vehicle (Catastrophic Injuries) Bill 2016 passed through the house last night and it is on track for implementation on 1 July.
I reiterate my sincere thanks to everyone on both sides of the house for their
support and constructive contributions to the debate on this important
legislation. I reiterate that I hope the Legislative Council makes an equally
timely and positive contribution to the debate so that we can get the bill
through on 1 July, and that means passing it by 1 May.
As people who participated in the debate know, the community
and health disability sectors are overwhelmingly supportive of this bill and
the issue. It is, in my view and also in the view of most of the people
commenting on the bill, long overdue. The cost of care for a catastrophically
injured person overwhelms a family. More importantly, upon receiving a catastrophic
injury, the injured person and their family need to concentrate on care and
rehabilitation, rather than cost and earning the money to afford it.
We have not lost track of the fact that the $99 fee for
no-fault insurance is high. Although it is lower than the fee in all other
states, it is still an impost on motorists in Western Australia. Therefore, we
are committed to keeping the cost low but at the same time, as we participate
in the debate, making sure that payments to those injured are done so in a timely
and appropriate manner. It is a delicate task, but we are absolutely committed
to keeping down the costs of premiums and running the scheme as world's
best practice.
I will also ensure that the community and motorists are kept
informed—that was one of the issues in the debate—of the
changes and have the nature of the change, the cost of the change and the
reasons we need the change communicated to them.
issue. I am pleased to announce that the government is making good progress in
implementing its commitment to helping people who are injured in motor vehicle
accidents and who have suffered catastrophic
injury and do not have access to the existing compulsory third party system
that is based on fault. The Motor Vehicle (Catastrophic Injuries) Bill 2016 passed through the house last night and it is on track for implementation on 1 July.
I reiterate my sincere thanks to everyone on both sides of the house for their
support and constructive contributions to the debate on this important
legislation. I reiterate that I hope the Legislative Council makes an equally
timely and positive contribution to the debate so that we can get the bill
through on 1 July, and that means passing it by 1 May.
As people who participated in the debate know, the community
and health disability sectors are overwhelmingly supportive of this bill and
the issue. It is, in my view and also in the view of most of the people
commenting on the bill, long overdue. The cost of care for a catastrophically
injured person overwhelms a family. More importantly, upon receiving a catastrophic
injury, the injured person and their family need to concentrate on care and
rehabilitation, rather than cost and earning the money to afford it.
We have not lost track of the fact that the $99 fee for
no-fault insurance is high. Although it is lower than the fee in all other
states, it is still an impost on motorists in Western Australia. Therefore, we
are committed to keeping the cost low but at the same time, as we participate
in the debate, making sure that payments to those injured are done so in a timely
and appropriate manner. It is a delicate task, but we are absolutely committed
to keeping down the costs of premiums and running the scheme as world's
best practice.
I will also ensure that the community and motorists are kept
informed—that was one of the issues in the debate—of the
changes and have the nature of the change, the cost of the change and the
reasons we need the change communicated to them.
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