Page 3711 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 23 October 2013
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urban renewal along the corridor and, indeed, at the key anchor points both in Gungahlin and the city.
Within the town centre a future cinema complex is proposed for release on block 1 section 12. This will be a mixed use development that will also include a retail and residential component. We are very close to announcing the successful tenderer for this project.
The government has also sold block 1 section 227 in the town centre and this has been purchased by the Eastlake Football Club. This development will not only generate employment opportunities for the area. Certainly, it also has considerable social and entertainment benefits.
Gungahlin will also be the site for the territory’s first common ground project, an innovative new mixed housing development.
Insurance—third party
MRS JONES: My question is to the Treasurer. The Road Transport (Third-Party Insurance) Act 2008 introduced certain changes to compulsory third-party insurance.
Minister, can you confirm that the act has led to a reduction in the number of insurance claims proceeding to court? If so, by how many?
MR BARR: I will obviously need to take the detail of that question on notice. The data will take some time to gather, but I am happy to provide that information to the member in due course. I would say that this is an area where the government believes there is a need for further reform. We certainly recognise the advantages of competition and we are very pleased that, for the first time in more than 25 years, ACT residents have a choice of third-party insurance providers. We are already seeing benefits of competition, both in terms of reduced prices for drivers who have a lower risk threshold and also in terms of a focus on early medical intervention and rehabilitation that the new entrants have brought into the marketplace.
We believe, though, that significant downward pressure on premiums will only come with a change to our system, a move away from a fault-based system. The government is certainly actively exploring further reforms in this area. The Victorian model is one that we are looking at, and I can foreshadow to the Assembly that we will be bringing further legislation. I look forward to the support of Assembly members this time because we know this is one of the more significant cost of living pressures that we are experiencing as residents in this city. There is something we can do about it, and that is to change our system.
We can also all contribute as residents by having fewer accidents, and one of the best ways to do that might be to slow down a little on the roads. Fewer accidents mean fewer payouts and lower premiums. All of our road safety strategies are at play to assist in that task. But everyone can assist by driving to the conditions and driving to the speed limit. Unfortunately, it would appear, from the evidence of anyone who spends any time on the roads in Canberra, that the speed limit seems to be more of an
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