The ABC reports that the Greens are going to do the bidding of Canberra’s legal fraternity and at best delay changes to compensation for car accidents that would lower the cost of compulsory third party insurance.
The main change would be the introduction of a threshold of 15 per cent of whole person impairment before pain and suffering damages can be sought.
But the Greens have announced they will not support the changes until a three-year review of the system is completed later this year.
“We think it’s fair and reasonable that no changes should be going through until that review has been conducted,” said Greens Leader Meredith Hunter.
The Liberals now have to decide who they like more: lawyers, or working families.
It’s going to be a tough one but in general while they like talking about working families they tend to do what the legal fraternity tell them to.
UPDATE: The Greens have now deigned to publish their statement:
ACT Greens Parliamentary Convenor and Treasury spokesperson, Meredith Hunter MLA, has announced that the ACT Greens will not support the Government’s proposed reforms to Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance scheme until the statutory review is undertaken.
“This issue has been the subject of much community interest and concern and it deserves a much more considered review before we debate the proposed changes,” Ms Hunter said.
The CTP Act requires that the Minister review the operation of the current scheme after 3 years.
“This is a review that is required under the act, and is scheduled for October this year. It makes sense to do the review, and assess the impact of the 2008 reforms before changing the laws.
“The Greens agree that the scheme could be improved, however, without a clearer understanding of how the scheme is currently operating we are essentially flying blind in our attempts at reform.