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Scheme to support Qld'ers badly injured in car accidents welcomed
11th Nov 2015
An announcement today from the State Government to consider options for implementing a National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS) to protect people catastrophically injured in motor vehicle accidents has been commended by the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
ALA Queensland President Rod Hodgson said a no-fault scheme that provided people with choice for their support needs and protected existing rights would make a significant difference to the lives of people catastrophically injured.
The reform will bring Queensland up to a set of standards that most States already meet.
“We have a responsibility as a community to provide appropriate care for Queenslanders who are catastrophically injured in a motor vehicle accident,” Mr Hodgson said.
“In Queensland there is currently no statutory scheme in place to ensure you or your family are covered for the lifetime costs that can come with being catastrophically injured in an accident where no one is found to be at fault.
“The ALA commends the State Government for addressing this imbalance, and in doing so, there is an important opportunity for Queensland to deliver the best no-fault catastrophic injury scheme for motor vehicle accidents in Australia, namely a scheme that does not cut existing rights and provides choice for individuals and families. The existing scheme has worked well on a long-term basis, and supplementing that scheme with no-fault coverage for the most seriously injured motorists is affordable and fair.”
“It would also be our hope and expectation that a reform such as this will receive bipartisan support, given this proposal stems from an agreement signed by the former government.
“The ALA looks forward to contributing further to the discussions around this important reform and in helping to ensure we can implement a scheme that both provides choice and protects rights for injured Queenslanders,” he said.
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