The Motor Accident Injuries Amendment Bill 2013 was introduced to the NSW Parliament on Thursday, May 9, and motorcycling bodies the Motorcycle Council of NSW (MCC) and the NSW Motorcycle Alliance (NSWMA) believe correspondence between the two bodies and the MAA reveals that the cost of green slips are likely to rise. 

The MCC and the NSWMA pointed to figures provided to them by the MAA that it costs on average $221,000 to rehabilitate a motorcycle rider after an accident and that the proposed amended legislation could see an additional 1000 motorcycle claims made to the MAA each year. 

“That could result in an increase in payouts to motorcyclists of $221 million. Just that increase alone is more than three times what we pay into the system currently; riders are naturally worried and find it impossible to see how they can fund this without increasing our already overpriced green slips by at least 300 per cent,” Christopher Burns from the MCC said. 

The government believes the legislation will bring the costs of green slips in NSW down. 

“Motorists in NSW currently pay $500 for CTP insurance – up to $260 more than other states – while it can take several years for injured people to receive benefits,” NSW Finance Minister Greg Pearce said. 

The NSWMA has called on the government and the MAA to make public a report by accounting firm Ernst & Young into the changes and how they will affect green slip costs.