Page 100 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 2008

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I will just speak very briefly. I think it is understood that if we are going to assess the impact of these amendments we need to have a broader range of criteria apart from the economic and financial ones that are primarily in Mr Smyth’s amendment, which I do support because this is a new thing and we need to check how it is going in a year or so. We need to make sure that we remember what the whole purport and objective of the amendment is, which is to make sure that action happens swiftly and that claimants are quickly able to recover their health and wellbeing and return to work. I think we should just add that in as subparagraph (c).

MR MULCAHY (Molonglo) (5.45): I will also be brief. I see merit in both amendments and will be pleased to support them. My only concern with Mr Smyth’s amendment is with paragraph 3 (a). Whilst I have indicated that it is certainly my hope that the long-term process of reform leads to reductions in premiums for compulsory third party insurance policies for motor vehicles, from discussions I have had and from the public comments that were made by the government when this was introduced, that outcome, certainly in the medium term, is not anticipated. Although it is one that I am certainly keen to see happen down the track as the market opens up and there is more competition, I do not think that that is an undertaking that the territory government gave as part of this process but rather as a longer-term objective that we all obviously hope it will achieve. Nevertheless, I am happy to support both amendments.

MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Business and Economic Development, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Minister for the Environment, Water and Climate Change, Minister for the Arts) (5.46): The government accepts that both Mr Smyth’s amendment and the amendment by Dr Foskey are quite reasonable and useful. It is appropriate with a major new approach to CTP that we do review it, and the government is more than happy to ensure that this legislation is fully reviewed in three years time.

Dr Foskey’s amendment agreed to.

Mr Smyth’s amendment, as amended, agreed to.

Proposed new clause 265A, as amended, agreed to.

Remainder of bill, by leave, taken as a whole.

Leave granted.

MR STANHOPE: I move amendments Nos 22 to 29 circulated in my name together [see schedule 1 at page 112].

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