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Inquiry Details

Fifth review of the exercise of the functions of the Motor Accidents Authority and the Motor Accidents Council

The Standing Committee on Law and Justice has an ongoing role to review the exercise of the functions of the Motor Accidents Authority (MAA) and the Motor Accidents Council (MAC). The MAA is a statutory corporation that regulates the NSW Motor Accidents Scheme. It was established under the Motor Accidents Act 1988 on 10 March 1989 and continues to be constituted under the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999. Section 210 of the latter Act provides that a committee of the Legislative Council is to be charged with the responsibility of supervising the exercise of the functions of the MAA and the MAC. The Legislation Council appointed the Standing Committee on Law and Justice to undertake this role in November 1999 and has reappointed the Law and Justice Committee in the current Parliament. The text of the resolution appointing the Committee is set out under the heading 'Inquiry Terms of Reference'. This is the Committee's fifth review of the exercise of the functions of the MAA and the MAC.
Minutes No. 13, 25 June 2003, Item 5. Terms of Reference 1. That, in accordance with the provisions of section 210 of the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999, the Standing Committee on Law and Justice be designated as the Legislative Council Committee to supervise the exercise of the functions of the Motor Accidents Authority and Motor Accidents Council under the Act. 2. That the terms of reference of the Committee in relation to these functions be: (a) to monitor and review the exercise by the Authority and Council of their functions, (b) to report to the House, with such comments as it thinks fit, on any matter appertaining to the Authority or Council or connected with the exercise of their functions to which, in the opinion of the Committee, the attention of the House should be directed, (c) to examine each annual or other report of the Authority and Council and report to the House on any matter appearing in, or arising out of, any such report, (d) to examine trends and changes in motor accidents compensation, and report to the House any changes that the Committee thinks desirable to the functions and procedures of the Authority or Council, (e) to inquire into any question in connection with the Committee's functions which is referred to it by the House, and report to the House on that question. 3. That the Committee report to the House in relation to the exercise of its functions under this resolution at least once each year. 4. That nothing in this resolution authorises the Committee to investigate a particular compensation claim under the Motor Accidents Compensation Act.

Terms of Reference 1. That, in accordance with the provisions of section 210 of the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999, the Standing Committee on Law and Justice be designated as the Legislative Council Committee to supervise the exercise of the functions of the Motor Accidents Authority and Motor Accidents Council under the Act. 2. That the terms of reference of the Committee in relation to these functions be: (a) to monitor and review the exercise by the Authority and Council of their functions, (b) to report to the House, with such comments as it thinks fit, on any matter appertaining to the Authority or Council or connected with the exercise of their functions to which, in the opinion of the Committee, the attention of the House should be directed, (c) to examine each annual or other report of the Authority and Council and report to the House on any matter appearing in, or arising out of, any such report, (d) to examine trends and changes in motor accidents compensation, and report to the House any changes that the Committee thinks desirable to the functions and procedures of the Authority or Council, (e) to inquire into any question in connection with the Committee's functions which is referred to it by the House, and report to the House on that question. 3. That the Committee report to the House in relation to the exercise of its functions under this resolution at least once each year. 4. That nothing in this resolution authorises the Committee to investigate a particular compensation claim under the Motor Accidents Compensation Act.


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