Children will no longer be covered for all injuries under changes to the green slip insurance scheme.
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The NSW Labor Opposition is calling on the O'Farrell government to ammend its motor accident injuries legislation to ensure children do not lose their special cover under the compulsory third party insurance scheme.
Shadow Treasurer and finance spokesman Michael Daley said the former scheme covered children under 16, regardless of fault, for all injuries and medical expenses for life.
The new law has abandoned that protection for children. Like adults, children whose injuries do not exceed 10 per cent whole person impairment will have their payments for medical expenses cut off after five years.
Mr Daley said the change was unfair because some children have to wait until they are adults to have operations, such as the resetting of a leg.
He said injuries which do not reach the ten per cent threshold include scarring from ear to chin, a moderate traumatic brain injury, complex fractures, spinal injuries causing ongoing shooting pains into the legs and disabling psychiatric injury.
"Currently children who are injured in car crashes receive medical and treatment expenses for life, as well as payments for loss of future earnings," he said.
"Under the O'Farrell Government's changes the overwhelming majority of injured children will now receive nothing for lost wages and will have medical and treatment benefits cut off completely after five years.
"Cutting off treatment and care benefits to injured children is about as low as it gets. It means that instead of the at-fault driver's insurance company paying for these benefits, parents will be left to foot the bill."
"This is cruel and grossly unfair. Making children suffer will do nothing to drive down greenslip prices".
Premier Barry O'Farrell said the existing compulsory third party insurance scheme was unsustainable. He said the new scheme would be fair and sustainable.
