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Lawyer calls out insurers' attempts to change CTP scheme
Renewed calls for Queensland to change its compulsory third party scheme to stamp out claim farming across the state are “nothing but a shameless attempt to boost insurer profits”, according to a Brisbane-based law firm director.
Emma Musgrave
Trent Johnson, director at Bennett & Philp Lawyers, has responded to recent comments made by Suncorp and RACQ, encouraging the Queensland government to change its compulsory third party (CTP) scheme to a “no-fault system”. The shake-up, they said, will put a stop to the “widespread practice” of claim farming.
“… The fact that RACQ’s profits jumped from $26.7 million in 2017 to $64.4 million for 2018 should be proof enough that Queensland’s CTP scheme does not need any change.
“Sadly however all the insurers have done is wait a few months then trot out their scaremongering campaign again.”
To further his point, Mr Johnson pointed to a 2017 campaign ran by the insurance industry “with RACQ to the fore”, which “blamed lawyers for a spike in Queensland CTP insurance claims.
“Queensland CTP insurers have again carefully avoided addressing the view of the insurance commissioner, Neil Singleton of the Motor Accident Insurance Commission, which runs the Queensland CTP scheme, who last year said that Queensland road users continued to enjoy a strong and sustainable CTP insurance scheme.
“In terms of key scheme metrics, CTP insurance premiums remained stable, the incidence of claims fraud identified by insurers remained very low and market research surveys showed that motorists and claimants are satisfied with the scheme – overall, it is a positive story.”
“Nothing has changed in Queensland and the state’s CTP scheme remains in good financial health with Queensland having almost the cheapest CTP insurance (which forms a large portion of Queensland vehicle registration fees) in the country but, as in the past, Queensland CTP insurers are using media pressure to white ant the scheme to fatten their already excessive profits.
“The insurers – once again – brand the legal profession as the greedy villains in this exercise to generate fear and loathing and bring pressure on the state government to change our CTP scheme. The simple fact is that our scheme is in very good financial health, and those injured claimants who are legally represented recover far more than those who choose to pursue a claim on their own.
“It’s ironic because the CTP insurers conveniently disregard the independent review of the Queensland compulsory third-party insurance scheme delivered to the Motor Accident Insurance Commission in December 2016, which expressed concerns over the high level of profits consistently being made by the Queensland CTP insurers. They are hypocrites.”
Mr Johnson acknowledged that while Queensland CTP insurers have every right to make a profit, “they should not be allowed to continue unabated profiteering from the scheme while simultaneously calling for measures such as guaranteed defined benefits which would only further increase their profits and decrease damages paid to deserving, injured claimants”.
“The insurance industry is happy to take Queenslanders’ CTP premiums but fight claims and makes people jump through hoops for motor vehicle injury claims,” he added.
“Insurance companies do not roll over with injury claims. Everything is a fight with them. Despite their public utterances, their agenda is purely self-serving and profit driven, and they regard properly compensating injury victims as a profit liability.”
Last year saw Slater & Gordon accused of engaging in claim farming with several companies, which it denied profusely. The allegations formed part of an extensive look into the practice of claim farming in the legal profession.
On 20 June 2019, the Queensland government confirmed it had tabled the Motor Accident Insurance and Other Legislation Amendement Bill, with Queensland Law Society president Bill Potts saying the proposed amendment “will go a long way” in stopping the practice of claim farming.
Emma Musgrave
Emma Musgrave (née Ryan) is the managing editor, professional services at Momentum Media.
Emma has worked for Momentum Media since 2015, including five years spent as the editor of the company's legal brand - Lawyers Weekly. Throughout her time at Momentum, she has been responsible for breaking some of the biggest stories in corporate Australia. In addition, she has produced exclusive multimedia and event content related to the company's respective brands and audiences.
Prior to joining Momentum Media, Emma worked in breakfast radio, delivering news to the Central West region of NSW, before taking on a radio journalist role at Southern Cross Austereo, based in Townsville, North Queensland.
She holds a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) degree from Charles Sturt University.
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