Page 3892 - Week 10 - Thursday, 20 September 2018

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(v) implementing a support system to better navigate the claims process; and

(vi) a system that strengthens integrity and reduces fraudulent behaviour;

(b) the draft bill’s alignment with the model chosen by the CTP citizens’ jury and the detailed design documents underpinning this model;

(d) the most suitable avenues for external review of matters arising between parties under the proposed new Motor Accident Injuries scheme;

(2) the Committee is to report by 26 October 2018; and

(3) if the Assembly is not sitting when the Committee has completed its inquiry, the Committee may send its report to the Speaker or, in the absence of the Speaker, to the Deputy Speaker or any other Member, who is authorised to give directions for its printing, publishing and circulation.

The ACT government is reforming Canberra’s compulsory third-party insurance arrangements because our current system does not cover everyone injured in a motor vehicle accident and it can take two years or more to get a full payout. But Canberrans still pay some of the highest premiums in the country. For example, if you are the driver and get injured in a single-car accident you cannot claim under Canberra’s current CTP scheme. That means that if you hit a kangaroo or lose control on an icy patch of road you cannot make a claim to cover your medical bills, care needs and lost income.

Under the new scheme everyone who is injured in a motor vehicle accident will be entitled to up to five years medical treatment, care and income replacement benefits as long as they are not breaking the law at the time of the accident. People who are very seriously injured will still be able to make a claim through the legal system if they need treatment and care long term. This improved, no-fault approach means more than 600 Canberrans a year will be covered for motor vehicle injury insurance under the new scheme than is the case today. At the same time, it preserves the rights of people who are more seriously injured to pursue a legal settlement through the courts.

The design of the new scheme was recommended by the citizens jury on CTP. The jury was made up of 50 Canberrans who met several times over six weeks to hear evidence from experts and people with experience of making claims through the scheme about how our current CTP scheme works. The jury recommended that Canberra’s CTP scheme be reformed to prioritise early access to treatment and care for everyone who gets injured and reduce the need to go to court just so that people can get the help they need. Canberrans can read the jury’s full report and reasons for recommending the reform by visiting the your say page on CTP.

The CTP citizens jury was the first large-scale trial of the deliberative democracy approach in the ACT and it was impressive to see the commitment, dedication and community spirit the jury members applied to considering information and questions

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