Kelly Vincent – 5RPH Interview on the Motor Accident Commission
17/06/2015
On 17th June 2015 Dignity for Disability MLC, Kelly Vincent was interviewed on radio station RPH to discuss the government’s proposal to sell the Motor Accident Commission and what it will mean for motorists. Here is the audio and transcript of that interview.
PAM GREEN: Time now to welcome to 5RPH Dignity for Disability MLC, Kelly Vincent. Hi Kelly.
KELLY VINCENT: Hi Pam.
PAM GREEN: There’s lots going on in regards to Compulsory Third Party Insurance and the Motor Accident Commission this week. What’s the history on this issue?
KELLY VINCENT: In 2013 the Parliament passed changes to compulsory third party insurance rules which basically saw people get a temporary discount of $100 on a 12 month car registration. Of course, everybody like to save a hundred bucks.
PAM GREEN: Mmm…
KELLY VINCENT: What the government didn’t tell you at that time was that not only would these prices then go back up after the election, but these changes would result in less comprehension insurance – less competence of payouts for people injured in motor vehicle accidents. For example, it is my understanding that under this scheme somebody who loses an eye in a motor vehicle accident would now be eligible for $22,000 compensation. Under the old scheme, they were eligible for some $92,000. So it is clear that there is a huge discrepancy in this new scheme, and the injured motorists are losing out.
PAM GREEN: Well, did some of what you earlier predicted happen as a consequence of these reforms?
KELLY VINCENT: Dignity for Disability was the only party at the time that these changes were passed by the Parliament and rubberstamped by the rest of the Parliament; we would only party to oppose these changes because the research that we had done, and the legal advice that we had received, clearly indicated that this is exactly what would happen. That the prices would go back up, which was seen in recent days, and that this would result in less competence of cover for people injured in motor vehicle accidents. So we strongly opposed these changes for those reasons when it was passed. What was predicted by Dignity for Disability in 2013 is now occurring. That’s why we’ve joined together today with MLC John Darley to call for a review into these changes. To ensure that we can find a better way.
PAM GREEN: So, what’s the government proposing as an answer?
KELLY VINCENT: The government really isn’t proposing an answer. What they are proposing is the sale of the Motor Accident Commission- the MAC. One of the reasons I believe that they are proposing the sale is that three years ago in 2013 when this legislation was passed, a review clause was put in which said in three year’s time, we have to review the consequences of these changes that we have now put forward. Well, if the MAC is now sold, the government is no longer involved in this, and therefore essentially of avoids this review. And so what John Darley and Dignity for Disability have joined in doing today is calling for that review to be brought forward, so the government cannot escape from seeing the consequences of this terrible and underhanded, slimy change that was put forward by the Parliament at that time. And the government has to face the fact of the damage it has done to potentially injured motorists.
PAM GREEN: Well you and John Darley held a press conference this morning, what are you calling on the government to do?
KELLY VINCENT: Well John Darley has put forward a proposal that the Social Development Committee will look into these changes to the third party compulsory insurance and the lifetime support scheme. And as I said, the exact reason that were calling for this review to be done now, is that in 2013 when these changes were first put forward, a review clause was put in that in three years these changes will need to be reviewed. Well now, if the sale of the MAC goes ahead the government will avoid that sale as it will no longer be involved in providing insurance. And so we need the review to be brought forward now so that the government can’t avoid it and we can clearly see the impact that this going to have on injured motorists.
PAM GREEN: Kelly, thanks for taking the time to talk to us again today.
KELLY VINCENT: Thanks for your interest Pam.
