Page 3645 - Week 08 - Friday, 24 August 2012
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pay an extra $20 or $30 on their premium and be compensated for their non-economic loss, they would decline that opportunity.
In relation to the discount rate, again, the only reason this level has been chosen is that it is the same as in New South Wales and, of course, because increasing the discount rate will reduce the size of payouts and therefore the cost of the scheme. Again, I would say that the public policy that we have to come up with is what the right level of cover is. We do not agree that the community would want the modest saving when the potential impact, should they be involved in an accident, could be so great.
At this point I would also like to say that we have had extensive discussions both with the government and with the opposition about the bill and the various amendments. I would like to thank the minister and his office, who, even though they knew that we would not support the major components of their bill, continued to negotiate with us in good faith and work through all the issues in a constructive manner. Similarly, I have to disagree with Mr Smyth about some of his proposals but his office remained very constructive in our discussions.
I do have to apologise that we were not able to circulate our amendments to parties sooner, but we have been negotiating for some time now, late last night and early this morning. We did attempt to provide as much information as we could as we considered the different options, but certainly that is not the same as the actual amendments themselves. So I do apologise for that delay. Again I would like to thank the government and the opposition and their staff for the good discussions and negotiations that have been going on, particularly in the last 24 hours.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation) (5.32): The government can support Greens amendment No 1, as I am advised it is a minor technical amendment. I will perhaps go to the discussion on clause 22 and those further Greens amendments when we get further into the debate, recognising that there are a number of amendments that do go to clause 22 and we will perhaps have that debate once, so as to streamline the passage of the remainder of the bill. So, in relation to Greens amendment 1 that amends clause 3, the government can support that.
Amendment agreed to.
Clause 3, as amended, agreed to.
Clauses 4 to 6, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Proposed new clauses 6A and 6B.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation) (5.33): I move amendment No 2 circulated in my name which inserts new clauses 6A and 6B [see schedule 1 at page 3683].
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