Page 2043 - Week 07 - Thursday, 4 June 2015
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in respect of relevant aspects of catchment management. The establishment of the catchment group is also linked to the role and work of the ACT and New South Wales memorandum of understanding for regional collaboration. Finally, the bill provides for the appointment of an independent chair of the catchment management group.
As we know, the ACT is part of the Murray-Darling Basin. The formation of an integrated catchment management group will assist in carrying out the ACT’s responsibilities for water resource management for the upper Murrumbidgee River system.
There is a clear need to create this coordination group in legislation. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Ms Lawder) adjourned to the next sitting.
NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust Repeal Bill 2015
Mr Rattenbury, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo—Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Justice, Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Transport Reform) (10.58): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
Today I introduce the NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust Repeal Bill 2015 into the Assembly. The NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust is based on an arrangement between the ACT government and NRMA Insurance and is a statutory public charitable trust.
The trust was established in 1992 with a fund of $10 million provided by NRMA Insurance as a result of surplus third-party insurance premiums arising from lower than expected claims in the 1980s. The decision to establish the trust was based on the view that it would provide an equitable means of distributing the excess funds for the purpose of projects that would enhance road safety in the ACT.
Since 1998 the trust has been funded by a road safety contribution paid when an ACT vehicle is registered, and a matching contribution from NRMA Insurance which is factored into their compulsory third-party insurance premiums.
While the trust arrangement was appropriate when NRMA Insurance was the ACT’s only compulsory third-party insurer, it is not consistent with encouraging competition or the principle of ensuring a level playing field for all insurers in the CTP market. Following the entry of a new CTP insurer to the ACT market, and discussions with the insurers, it was decided that the trust should be ceased and new arrangements for funding road safety initiatives be established in its place.
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