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An extra levy on CTP Green Slips is costing motorists up to ten times more than the Iemma Government claimed in the lead-up to the last State Election, said Shadow Minister for Finance, Mike Baird.
“Most people wouldn’t analyse the fine print on their Green Slips and are unaware the Government is charging significantly more than the Premier claimed this levy would cost,” said Mr Baird.
“We hear a lot of words from the Iemma Government on helping working families and we heard this scheme would only cost $20 a Green Slip from the Premier himself*. Well today the genie is out of the bottle. Working families across Sydney have been lied to by the Iemma Government.”
The MCIS (Medical Care and Injury Services) levy on CTP Green Slips covers lifetime care and support for people seriously injured in a car accident, and ambulance and hospital costs for all motor vehicle accidents.
“While the Government gained $132 million from the CTP levy in the last financial year, it only spent $38 million delivering care and support* through claims. Anyone can understand the need to collect more than claims but $94 million when working families are struggling?
“Despite the Premier’s claim before the State Election that there would be no increases in taxes or charges if his Government was re-elected*, motorists are being slugged. With public transport woefully inadequate, NSW residents are increasingly reliant on their cars. On top of escalating petrol prices, it is another hidden tax motorists don’t need.”
Mr Baird said the Lifetime Care and Support Authority set up to administer the levy was yet another home for Labor mates including Mr Nicholas Whitlam on the Board of Directors. The Authority also spent almost $200,000 on consultancy fees and almost $50,000 on advertising, promotion and public relations in the last financial year*.
“While frontline services are disintegrating, the State Labor Government constructed a whole new layer of bureaucracy with board members and directors, and taxpayers are paying for it.
“To add insult to injury, if motorists have private health cover, they appear to be paying for ambulance and hospital cover twice – once through the levy and again to their insurance company. The Premier should explain this detail. “The message to working families is, check your Green Slip. If the MCIS levy is more than $20 you’ve been had.”
MEDIA: Lisa Harrington - 0406 726 880
*1 - Launch of Lifetime Care and Support Scheme at Children’s Hospital, Randwick – 9 March 2006
* 2 - Lifetime Care and Support Authority, Annual Report 2006-2007, page 38
* 3 - Daily Telegraph ‘Labor vow – no tax rises’ 19-3-07
* 4 - Lifetime Care and Support Authority, Annual Report 2006-2007, page 33
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