Citizens’ Jury selects preferred Compulsory Third Party insurance scheme for the ACT


Released 25/03/2018

Members of the ACT Government’s first Citizens’ Jury on Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance have selected a preferred new scheme to deliver improved coverage that will better protect Canberrans.

The model chosen by the jury delivers the following improvements:

  • everyone injured in a motor vehicle accident will receive up to five years treatment, care and income benefits, regardless of who was at fault. This means approximately 40% more people will be covered and everyone will have earlier access to benefits after an accident. There will continue to be exclusions for serious criminal offences, in line with other Australian jurisdictions.
  • quality of life benefits, which provide compensation for non-financial loss, will be available for all people who meet injury thresholds.
  • anyone whose injury was caused by someone else’s negligence and who is more seriously injured will still be able to access additional common law benefits.

The jury decided this model best meets the objectives they set when they first commenced work in October: early access to medical treatment, economic support and rehabilitation services; equitable cover for all people injured in a motor vehicle accident; greater efficiency and value for money; supporting people to better navigate the scheme and strengthening integrity of the scheme to reduce fraudulent behaviour.

The jury’s full report, available now on www.yoursay.act.gov.au/ctp, will be formally presented to  Chief Minister Andrew Barr MLA on Tuesday 27 March by a delegation from the jury.

The ACT Government has committed to delivering the scheme chosen by the jury and will now commence work with stakeholders to draft legislation and present it to the ACT Legislative Assembly. It is expected the new scheme will commence in Canberra in the second half of 2019.

The government commissioned the jury process to work with our community to improve the current CTP scheme to better protect Canberrans.

Under the current scheme, many Canberrans who are in an accident are not covered by CTP and even if you are covered it can take two years or more to get your full payout, but we still pay some of the highest premiums in the country.

Jurors spent three weekends and many hours in between considering the scheme from all perspectives, including people injured in motor vehicle accidents. The process was supported by many experts and involved those parties with an interest in the scheme through the Stakeholder Referent Group (SRG). The SRG spent almost 30 hours in deliberations to support the development of the four models.

The ACT Government thanks the members of the jury and the Stakeholder Reference Group for giving up their time to support this process and for the seriousness and dedication with which they approached their task.

A summary of the preferred scheme and how it compares with the current scheme is attached. Representatives from the jury will be available for interview on request.

- Statement ends -

ACT Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate | Media Releases

Media Contacts

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Karen Stewart-Moore

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Karen.Stewart-Moore@act.gov.au


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