Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, Bill Shorten, thanked the National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS) Advisory Group which met in Sydney yesterday to discuss the path forward to developing a comprehensive scheme for catastrophic injuries.
Mr Shorten appointed the Advisory Group in November 2011 to assist the Government to establish a NIIS to cover the lifetime care and support needs for all people who experience a catastrophic injury.
The Advisory Group includes representatives from the insurance, legal, disability and medical sectors, as well as local government and unions.
"Working closely with the Advisory Group ensures the Government is getting the best possible expert advice when making this nation-changing scheme a reality," Minister Shorten said.
The Productivity Commission identified the four main causes of catastrophic injury which require a NIIS, namely motor vehicle accidents, medical accidents, workplace accidents, and general accidents occurring in the home or community.
"The only factor which should determine the level of care someone receives is the level of support they require, not the cause of their injury."
The Advisory Group has issued a Communiqué on the outcomes of the meeting, where it endorsed a comprehensive system of lifetime care and support for all the four main causes of catastrophic injury.
5 April 2013
* Communiqué attached
Attachment
NIIS Advisory Group Communiqué
The National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS) Advisory Group met today to discuss the path forward to develop a comprehensive scheme for catastrophic injuries. All four injury classes were discussed, being motor vehicle accidents, medical accidents, workplace accidents, and general accidents occurring in the home or community.
The Advisory Group is advising the Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation the Hon. Bill Shorten, on the issues associated with the establishment of a NIIS. The Minister attended the meeting and thanked the Group for its work. The Advisory Group was established following the Government's announcement to reform the disability care and support system in response to the Productivity Commission's report into Disability Care and Support.
At the 4 April meeting the Advisory Group:
- welcomed the passage of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) legislation and the progress jurisdictions are making towards commencement of launch on 1 July 2013.
- reinforced its support for the key objectives of the NIIS and NDIS to improve care and support for those with a significant and permanent disability. The Group emphasised its support for the principle of uniform coverage regardless of how a disability is acquired, and the implementation of a comprehensive system.
- expressed support for the work of States and Territories in developing and agreeing minimum benchmarks for the motor vehicle accident work stream of the NIIS prior to the NDIS launch from 1 July 2013. The Advisory Group supports Minister Shorten's establishment of two medical misadventure working groups to provide expert advice to the Government on technical matters such as data and funding, and an appropriate definition of medical accidents. The Advisory Group sees these working groups as critical to the development of minimum benchmarks for medical treatment injury and looks forward to receiving further updates as work progresses.
- noted that developing a NIIS for general accidents and criminal injury is a significant task. A sub-group was established to explore alternatives to progress components of the general accidents work stream.
- noted that Safe Work Australia will progress technical work to develop nationally consistent, minimum benchmarks for workplace accidents which would result in long term need for support, consistent with the work streams of NIIS.
- reinforced its committed to advising the Minister and informing the Government's decision-making on issues associated with the development of a NIIS for catastrophic injury.
Members of the NIIS Advisory Group:
Mr John Walsh, AM (Chair)
Partner, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Associate Commissioner, Productivity Commission Inquiry into long term care and support for Australians with disability.
Mr David Bowen
CEO of NDIS Launch Transition Agency. Was a Member of the Independent Panel appointed to advise the Productivity Commission and Government during the Inquiry into long-term care and support for Australians with disability.
Mr John Cain
Managing Partner, Herbert Geer Law Firm.
Dr Rhonda Galbally AO
Chair of the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council. Member of NDIS Advisory Group. Was a Member of the Independent Panel appointed to advise the Productivity Commission and Government during the Inquiry into long-term care and support for Australians with disability.
Ms Julie Ligeti
Manager, Policy and Government Relations, Melbourne, Slater and Gordon.
Ms Ged Kearney
President, Australian Council of Trade Unions.
Mr Peter Martin
Australian Government Actuary.
Mr John Pritchard
President, Australian Local Government Association.
Mr Paul O'Connor
Chief Executive Officer, Comcare.
Dr Andrew Pesce
Immediate Past President, Australian Medical Association. Was a Member of the Independent Panel appointed to advise the Productivity Commission and Government during the Inquiry into long-term care and support for Australians with disability.
Mr Alex Sanchez
General Manager, Economic and Taxation Directorate, Insurance Council of Australia.