Page 3066 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 14 August 2012

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motorists who pay CTP premiums, including taxi operators, and for persons injured in road crashes. Over time the net result should have been more affordable CTP insurance for the ACT community.

The Government’s CTP Bill was the subject of an inquiry by the Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts. The committee reported (Inquiry into the Road Transport) (Third-Party Insurance Amendment Bill 2011, Report 22) on 10 May 2012. The committee has recommended that the CTP Bill not be supported by the Legislative Assembly in its present form.

Without the Government’s proposed changes, there is little realistic prospect either of other insurers entering the ACT market for CTP or for a significant reduction in the premiums payable by ACT motorists, including taxi operators, in the immediate future. The Government considers that the level of market competition and the rate of premium increase in recent years is concerning, and should be addressed.

The Government considers that the reforms contained in its Bill will provide significant benefits to Canberra motorists and households through improved health outcomes, increased CTP market competition and reduced CTP premiums. The Government will continue to push for its reform, which will bring the ACT into line with other jurisdictions.

Notwithstanding the apparent lack of support for the Bill by the non-Government parties in the Assembly, the Government will not abandon its Bill.

The Government will respond to the inquiry report in due course.

Retirement villages—petitions Nos 131, 133 and 134

The response read as follows:

The Government notes the petitions by the petitioners, tabled by Mr Simon Corbell MLA on 1 May and 3 May 2012, and by Ms Mary Porter MLA on 8 May 2012 and makes the following comments.

Mary Porter, MLA, introduced a private member’s bill, the Retirement Villages Bill 2011 on 16 November 2011.

Following introduction of the 2011 Bill, industry groups indicated in a submission to Government that they were opposed to the Bill on the basis that it may have imposed high costs on the retirement village industry.

Both the Government and Ms Porter have separately met with a number of industry groups and the ACT Retirement Village Residents Association. In their meetings with Government, both industry and resident groups have indicated a preference for retirement village legislation along the lines of the NSW legislation.

Industry groups have indicated that they are largely already complying with the NSW requirements.


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