{"id":"nsw:act-2006-016","name":"Motor Accidents (Lifetime Care and Support) Act 2006","slug":"motor-accidents-lifetime-care-and-support-act-2006","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nsw","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"16 of 2006","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":174956,"registerId":"nsw-nsw:act-2006-016-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Part 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Preliminary","content":"# Part 1 Preliminary\n\nPart 1 Preliminary","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name of Act","content":"#### 1 Name of Act\n\n1 Name of Act\n\n> This Act is the [Motor Accidents (Lifetime Care and Support) Act 2006](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2006-016).","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n2 Commencement\n\n> > (1) This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation, except as provided by subsection (2).\n> \n> > (2) Section 66 (Auditor-General to report on Costing Study) commences on the date of assent to this Act.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 3 Definitions\n\n3 Definitions\n\n> > (1) In this Act—\n> > \n> > approved provider—see section 11C (2).\n> > \n> > assessed treatment and care needs—see section 11A (2).\n> > \n> > attendant care services means services that aim to provide assistance to people with everyday tasks, and includes (for example) personal assistance, nursing, home maintenance and domestic services.\n> > \n> > Authority means the Lifetime Care and Support Authority of New South Wales constituted by this Act.\n> > \n> > chief executive means the chief executive of the Authority appointed under this Act.\n> > \n> > excluded treatment and care needs—see section 5A (2).\n> > \n> > Fund means the Lifetime Care and Support Authority Fund established by this Act.\n> > \n> > insurer of a claim means an insurer for the purposes of Chapter 4 (Motor accident claims) of the [Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1999-041) in relation to the claim.\n> > \n> > LTCS Guidelines means guidelines issued by the Authority under section 58, as in force from time to time.\n> > \n> > motor accident injury means injury caused by a motor accident.\n> > \n> > Note.\n> > \n> > Section 4 provides for the motor accident injuries to which this Act applies.\n> > \n> > participant in the Scheme means a person accepted as provided by this Act as a participant in the Scheme (either as a lifetime participant or as an interim participant).\n> > \n> > relevant Scheme commencement date, with respect to a person who has suffered motor accident injuries, means—\n> > \n> > > (a) 1 October 2006 if the person was under 16 years of age at the time of the motor accident that caused the injuries, or\n> > \n> > > (b) 1 October 2007 in any other case.\n> > \n> > the Scheme means the scheme provided for by this Act for the lifetime care and support of persons injured in motor accidents.\n> > \n> > treatment and care needs—see section 5A.\n> > \n> > treatment and care needs assessment means an assessment under Part 4 of the treatment and care needs of a participant in respect of the participant’s motor accident injury.\n> > \n> > Note.\n> > \n> > The [Interpretation Act 1987](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1987-015) contains definitions and other provisions that affect the interpretation and application of this Act.\n> \n> > (2) Notes included in this Act do not form part of this Act.\n> \n> **s 3:** Am 2009 No 33, Sch 1 \\[1\\]; 2009 No 96, Sch 14 \\[1\\]; 2012 No 48, Sch 1 \\[1\\] \\[2\\]; 2012 No 54, Sch 3.2 \\[1\\]–\\[3\\]; 2015 No 19, Sch 8 \\[1\\] \\[2\\].","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application of Act","content":"#### 4 Application of Act\n\n4 Application of Act\n\n> > (1) This Act applies only in respect of motor accident injuries suffered by a person as a result of a motor accident occurring on or after the relevant Scheme commencement date.\n> > \n> > Note.\n> > \n> > Section 7A provides for a limited exception to this provision.\n> \n> > (2) This Act applies only in respect of motor accident injuries resulting from motor accidents occurring in New South Wales.\n> > \n> > Note.\n> > \n> > Section 7B provides for a limited exception to this provision.\n> \n> > (3) This Act applies in respect of a motor accident injury only if there is a motor vehicle involved in the motor accident concerned that has motor accident insurance cover for the motor accident (within the meaning of section 3B of the [Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1999-041)), whether or not all the motor vehicles involved in the motor accident have motor accident insurance cover for the motor accident.\n> \n> > (4) This Act applies in respect of a motor accident injury whether or not the injury was caused by the fault of the owner or driver of the motor vehicle in the use or operation of the vehicle or of any other person and so applies even if the injured person was at fault (whether as owner or driver of the vehicle or otherwise).\n> \n> > (5) The regulations may make provision (including provision of a savings or transitional nature) for or with respect to limiting the application of this Act or any specified provisions of this Act to specified classes of persons.\n> \n> **s 4:** Am 2009 No 33, Sch 1 \\[2\\]; 2017 No 10, Sch 5.10 \\[1\\].","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Interpretation—Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999","content":"#### 5 Interpretation—Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999\n\n5 Interpretation—[Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1999-041)\n\n> Words and expressions used (but not defined) in this Act have the same meanings as in the [Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1999-041).","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"5A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Treatment and care needs","content":"#### 5A Treatment and care needs\n\n5A Treatment and care needs\n\n> > (1) For the purposes of this Act, the treatment and care needs of a participant in the Scheme are the participant’s needs for or in connection with any of the following—\n> > \n> > > (a) medical treatment (including pharmaceuticals),\n> > \n> > > (b) dental treatment,\n> > \n> > > (c) rehabilitation,\n> > \n> > > (d) ambulance transportation,\n> > \n> > > (e) respite care,\n> > \n> > > (f) attendant care services,\n> > \n> > > (g) aids and appliances,\n> > \n> > > (h) prostheses,\n> > \n> > > (i) education and vocational training,\n> > \n> > > (j) home and transport modification,\n> > \n> > > (k) workplace and educational facility modifications,\n> > \n> > > (l) such other kinds of treatment, care, support or services as may be prescribed by the regulations under this paragraph.\n> \n> > (2) Despite subsection (1), the treatment and care needs of a participant do not include any treatment, care, support or services of a kind declared by the regulations to be excluded treatment and care needs.\n> \n> **s 5A:** Ins 2012 No 48, Sch 1 \\[3\\].","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"Part 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Participation in Scheme","content":"# Part 2 Participation in Scheme\n\nPart 2 Participation in Scheme\n\n**pt 2, hdg:** Subst 2012 No 48, Sch 1 \\[4\\].","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 6\n\n6 (Repealed)","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Eligibility for participation in the Scheme","content":"#### 7 Eligibility for participation in the Scheme\n\n7 Eligibility for participation in the Scheme\n\n> > (1) A person who has suffered a motor accident injury is eligible to be a participant in the Scheme in respect of the injury if the person’s injury satisfies the criteria specified in the LTCS Guidelines for eligibility for participation in the Scheme.\n> \n> > (2) Participation in the Scheme may be as a lifetime participant or an interim participant and for that purpose the LTCS Guidelines are to establish criteria for eligibility for lifetime participation and criteria for eligibility for interim participation in the Scheme.\n> \n> > (3) A person is not eligible to be a participant in the Scheme in relation to an injury if the person has been awarded damages, pursuant to a final judgment entered by a court or a binding settlement, for future economic loss in respect of the treatment and care needs of the participant that relate to the injury.\n> \n> > (4) The LTCS Guidelines may make provision for or with respect to eligibility for participation in the Scheme, including provision for or with respect to the criteria that a motor accident injury must satisfy for the injured person to be eligible for participation in the Scheme in respect of the injury and the determination of whether a motor accident injury satisfies those criteria.","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"7A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Persons injured before commencement of Scheme may “buy in”","content":"#### 7A Persons injured before commencement of Scheme may “buy in”\n\n7A Persons injured before commencement of Scheme may “buy in”\n\n> > (1) A person who has suffered a motor accident injury as a result of a motor accident occurring before the relevant Scheme commencement date (a pre-commencement injury) may be accepted as a lifetime participant in the Scheme if the person pays to the Authority, for payment into the Fund, a contribution determined by the Authority.\n> \n> > (2) The contribution is to be the amount that the Authority determines as the amount required to fund the treatment and care needs of the person as a lifetime participant in the Scheme in respect of the injury.\n> \n> > (3) A person is eligible to participate in the Scheme in respect of a pre-commencement injury only if the person would have been eligible to participate in the Scheme—\n> > \n> > > (a) had the motor accident occurred immediately after the relevant Scheme commencement date, and\n> > \n> > > (b) if the person has been awarded damages in respect of the injury—had those damages not been awarded.\n> \n> > (4) An application for a person to become a participant in the Scheme in respect of a pre-commencement injury cannot be made by an insurer.\n> \n> > (5) The LTCS Guidelines may make provision for or with respect to how a person’s contribution for participation in the Scheme in respect of a pre-commencement injury is to be determined.\n> \n> **s 7A:** Ins 2009 No 33, Sch 1 \\[3\\].","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"7B","sectionType":"section","heading":"Persons injured in motor accidents occurring outside NSW may “buy in”","content":"#### 7B Persons injured in motor accidents occurring outside NSW may “buy in”\n\n7B Persons injured in motor accidents occurring outside NSW may “buy in”\n\n> > (1) A person who has suffered a motor accident injury as a result of a motor accident occurring outside New South Wales (whether before or after the commencement of this section) may be accepted as a lifetime participant in the Scheme if the person pays to the Authority, for payment into the Fund, a contribution determined by the Authority.\n> \n> > (2) The contribution is to be the amount that the Authority determines as the amount required to fund the treatment and care needs of the person as a lifetime participant in the Scheme in respect of the injury.\n> \n> > (3) A person is eligible to participate in the Scheme under this section only if the person would have been eligible to participate in the Scheme—\n> > \n> > > (a) had the motor accident occurred in New South Wales, and\n> > \n> > > (b) if the person has been awarded damages in respect of the injury—had those damages not been awarded.\n> \n> > (4) An application for a person to become a participant in the Scheme under this section cannot be made by an insurer.\n> \n> > (5) The LTCS Guidelines may make provision for or with respect to how a person’s contribution for participation in the Scheme under this section is to be determined.\n> \n> **s 7B:** Ins 2017 No 10, Sch 5.10 \\[2\\].","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application for participation in the Scheme","content":"#### 8 Application for participation in the Scheme\n\n8 Application for participation in the Scheme\n\n> > (1) An application for a person to become a participant in the Scheme in respect of a motor accident injury is to be made to the Authority and can only be made by or on behalf of the person or by the insurer of a claim made by the person in respect of the injury.\n> \n> > (2) An application by an insurer does not require the consent of the person.\n> \n> > (3) The State Insurance Regulatory Authority may direct the insurer of a claim made by a person in respect of an injury to make an application for the person to become a participant in the Scheme, and the insurer must comply with such a direction.\n> \n> > (4) An application is to be made in the form approved by the Authority and is to set out or be accompanied by such particulars and information as may be required by the approved form.\n> \n> > (5) The Authority may require the injured person to provide authorisation for the Authority to obtain information and documents relevant to the motor accident injury from specified persons in connection with the application.\n> \n> > (6) The LTCS Guidelines may make provision for or with respect to applications to become a participant in the Scheme, including provision for or with respect to—\n> > \n> > > (a) the making and determination of applications (including the information required to be provided in connection with an application), and\n> > \n> > > (b) requiring an insurer to pay the costs of any assessment required by the LTCS Guidelines in connection with an application, and\n> > \n> > > (c) imposing restrictions on the time within which an application can be made or requiring the deferring of the making of an application until an injury has stabilised.\n> \n> **s 8:** Am 2015 No 19, Sch 8 \\[3\\].","sortOrder":13},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Acceptance as a participant","content":"#### 9 Acceptance as a participant\n\n9 Acceptance as a participant\n\n> > (1) A person becomes a participant in the Scheme if the Authority is satisfied that the person is eligible to be a participant and accepts the person in writing as a participant in the Scheme, either as a lifetime participant or an interim participant (according to the person’s eligibility).\n> \n> > (2) If the Authority is satisfied that a person is eligible to be a participant and that application for the person’s acceptance as a participant has been duly made, the Authority must accept the person as a lifetime participant or an interim participant (according to the person’s eligibility).\n> \n> > (3) A person accepted as an interim participant must be accepted as a lifetime participant if the Authority becomes satisfied during the person’s interim participation in the Scheme that the person is eligible for lifetime participation in the Scheme.\n> \n> > (4) A person accepted as a lifetime participant in the Scheme remains a participant for life.\n> \n> > (5) A person 3 years of age or over who is accepted as an interim participant remains an interim participant for a period of 2 years only.\n> \n> > (5A) A person under 3 years of age who is accepted as an interim participant remains an interim participant until the person is 5 years of age.\n> \n> > (5B) If a person who is an interim participant is accepted as a lifetime participant, the person ceases to be an interim participant on that acceptance and then remains a participant for life.\n> \n> > (6) A person cannot be accepted as an interim participant more than once in relation to the same motor accident injury.\n> \n> > (7) The expiration of a period of interim participation in the Scheme does not prevent subsequent acceptance of the person as a lifetime participant in the Scheme.\n> \n> **s 9:** Am 2009 No 33, Sch 1 \\[4\\].","sortOrder":14},{"sectionNumber":"10","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 10\n\n10 (Repealed)","sortOrder":15},{"sectionNumber":"11","sectionType":"section","heading":"Effect of Scheme on motor accident compensation claims and limitation periods","content":"#### 11 Effect of Scheme on motor accident compensation claims and limitation periods\n\n11 Effect of Scheme on motor accident compensation claims and limitation periods\n\n> > (1) This Act does not limit or otherwise affect the application of the [Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1999-041) in respect of a motor accident injury of a person who is or who is eligible to become a participant in the Scheme, except as specifically provided by that Act.\n> \n> > (2) While a person is an interim participant in the Scheme in respect of an injury, time does not run for the purposes of section 109 (Time limitations on commencement of court proceedings) of the [Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1999-041) or a provision of the [Limitation Act 1969](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1969-031) in respect of a cause of action on a claim for damages that relate to the injury or to any other injury suffered by the person as a result of the motor accident concerned.","sortOrder":17},{"sectionNumber":"Part 2A","sectionType":"part","heading":"Payments under Scheme","content":"# Part 2A Payments under Scheme\n\nPart 2A Payments under Scheme\n\n**pt 2A:** Ins 2012 No 48, Sch 1 \\[6\\].","sortOrder":18},{"sectionNumber":"11A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Assessed treatment and care needs of participants to be paid for by Authority","content":"#### 11A Assessed treatment and care needs of participants to be paid for by Authority\n\n11A Assessed treatment and care needs of participants to be paid for by Authority\n\n> > (1) The Authority is to pay for all of the reasonable expenses incurred by or on behalf of a person in relation to the assessed treatment and care needs of the person while the person is a participant in the Scheme.\n> \n> > (2) The assessed treatment and care needs of a person who is a participant in the Scheme are those treatment and care needs that are assessed by the Authority, in its treatment and care needs assessment, to be treatment and care needs that—\n> > \n> > > (a) are reasonable and necessary in the circumstances, and\n> > \n> > > (b) relate to the motor accident injury in respect of which the person is a participant.\n> \n> > (3) No expenses are payable in respect of—\n> > \n> > > (a) excluded treatment and care needs, and\n> > \n> > > (b) treatment and care needs that are not assessed treatment and care needs.\n> \n> > (4) As an alternative to paying the expenses for which it is liable under this section as and when they are incurred, the Authority may pay those expenses by the payment to the participant of an amount to cover those expenses over a fixed period pursuant to an agreement between the Authority and the participant for the payment of those expenses by the participant.\n> \n> > (5) The LTCS Guidelines may make provision for or with respect to determining which treatment and care needs of a participant in the Scheme are reasonable and necessary in the circumstances and relate to the motor accident injury in respect of which the person is a participant.\n> \n> **s 11A:** Ins 2012 No 48, Sch 1 \\[6\\].","sortOrder":19},{"sectionNumber":"11AA","sectionType":"section","heading":"Option of contribution to other cost effective expenditure for meeting treatment and care needs","content":"#### 11AA Option of contribution to other cost effective expenditure for meeting treatment and care needs\n\n11AA Option of contribution to other cost effective expenditure for meeting treatment and care needs\n\n> > (1) The Authority has the option of satisfying its liability under this Part to pay for expenses incurred in relation to a participant’s assessed treatment and care needs by contributing to alternative expenditure (incurred by or on behalf of the participant) that the Authority is satisfied will provide for those needs in a cost effective manner.\n> \n> > (2) The Authority’s contribution to alternative expenditure is limited to the amount of a reasonable contribution to that expenditure and is not to exceed the amount for which the Authority would otherwise have been liable under this Part to pay for expenses incurred in relation to a participant’s assessed treatment and care needs.\n> \n> > (3) An assessment of the option of contributing to alternative expenditure under this section is part of the assessment of the treatment and care needs of a participant in the Scheme.\n> > \n> > Note.\n> > \n> > Because an assessment of this option is part of the assessment of the treatment and care needs of a participant, Part 4 and the LTCS Guidelines extend to an assessment of that option.\n> \n> **s 11AA:** Ins 2014 No 77, Sch 1 \\[1\\].","sortOrder":20},{"sectionNumber":"11B","sectionType":"section","heading":"Payment not required in certain circumstances","content":"#### 11B Payment not required in certain circumstances\n\n11B Payment not required in certain circumstances\n\n> > (1) The Authority is not required to make a payment in relation to the following—\n> > \n> > > (a) any treatment, care, support or service provided to a participant in the Scheme on a gratuitous basis (that is, anything provided to a participant for which the participant has not paid and is not liable to pay),\n> > \n> > > (b) any treatment, care, support or service that is required to be provided by an approved provider but is provided by a person who is not, at the time of the provision, an approved provider.\n> \n> > (2) However, the Authority may elect to make a payment in relation to any treatment, care, support or service referred to in subsection (1) if the Authority is of the opinion that special circumstances exist that justify such payment.\n> \n> > (3) The LTCS Guidelines may make provision for or with respect to determining whether special circumstances exist that justify payment in relation to any treatment, care, support or service referred to in subsection (1).\n> \n> > (4) To avoid doubt, this section applies even if the treatment, care, support or services concerned are provided in connection with the provision of the assessed treatment and care needs of a participant in the Scheme.\n> \n> > (5) This section has effect despite section 11A.\n> \n> **s 11B:** Ins 2012 No 48, Sch 1 \\[6\\].","sortOrder":21},{"sectionNumber":"11C","sectionType":"section","heading":"Approved providers","content":"#### 11C Approved providers\n\n11C Approved providers\n\n> > (1) The following treatment, care, support or services (provided in connection with the provision of assessed treatment and care needs of a participant in the Scheme) are to be provided only by an approved provider of the treatment, care, support or service—\n> > \n> > > (a) attendant care services,\n> > \n> > > (b) any other treatment, care, support or services (other than the services of a medical practitioner) identified in the LTCS Guidelines as treatment, care, support or services that are to be provided by an approved provider.\n> \n> > (2) An approved provider of a service is a person, or a person of a class, approved by the Authority (or by any other person specified in the LTCS Guidelines), in accordance with the LTCS Guidelines, to provide the treatment, care, support or service under the Scheme.\n> \n> > (3) The LTCS Guidelines may also make provision for or with respect to the standards of competency of approved providers.\n> \n> **s 11C:** Ins 2012 No 48, Sch 1 \\[6\\].","sortOrder":22},{"sectionNumber":"Part 3","sectionType":"part","heading":"Dispute resolution","content":"# Part 3 Dispute resolution\n\nPart 3 Dispute resolution","sortOrder":23},{"sectionNumber":"Division 1","sectionType":"division","heading":"Disputes about eligibility","content":"## Division 1 Disputes about eligibility\n\nDivision 1 Disputes about eligibility","sortOrder":24},{"sectionNumber":"12","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 12 Definitions\n\n12 Definitions\n\n> In this Division—\n> \n> Assessment Panel means a panel of assessors convened under this Division to determine a dispute under this Division.\n> \n> assessor means a person appointed under this Division as an assessor for the purposes of this Division.\n> \n> Review Panel means a panel of assessors convened under this Division to review a determination by an Assessment Panel.","sortOrder":25},{"sectionNumber":"13","sectionType":"section","heading":"Appointment of assessors","content":"#### 13 Appointment of assessors\n\n13 Appointment of assessors\n\n> The Authority is to appoint medical practitioners and other suitably qualified persons to be assessors for the purposes of this Division.","sortOrder":26},{"sectionNumber":"14","sectionType":"section","heading":"Referral of disputes to Assessment Panel","content":"#### 14 Referral of disputes to Assessment Panel\n\n14 Referral of disputes to Assessment Panel\n\n> > (1) If there is a dispute as to whether a motor accident injury suffered by a person satisfies criteria specified in the LTCS Guidelines for eligibility for participation in the Scheme, the dispute can be referred to an Assessment Panel for determination.\n> \n> > (2) The dispute can be referred by the Authority or by notice to the Authority given by or on behalf of the injured person or by the insurer of the injured person’s claim.\n> \n> > (3) The Authority is to convene a panel of 3 assessors to constitute the Assessment Panel to determine a dispute referred under this section.\n> \n> > (4) The Assessment Panel to which a dispute is referred for determination is to determine the dispute and is to give a certificate as to its determination setting out the reasons for its determination.","sortOrder":27},{"sectionNumber":"15","sectionType":"section","heading":"Review of Assessment Panel’s determination","content":"#### 15 Review of Assessment Panel’s determination\n\n15 Review of Assessment Panel’s determination\n\n> > (1) The determination of an Assessment Panel can be referred for review by a Review Panel, but only on one or more of the following grounds—\n> > \n> > > (a) a change in the condition of the injured person, being a change that occurred or that first became apparent after the dispute was referred for determination by the Assessment Panel and that is capable of having a material effect on the determination,\n> > \n> > > (b) the availability of additional relevant information about the injury, being information that was not available, or could not reasonably have been obtained, before the dispute was referred for determination by the Assessment Panel and that is capable of having a material effect on the determination,\n> > \n> > > (c) the determination was not made in accordance with the LTCS Guidelines,\n> > \n> > > (d) the determination is demonstrably incorrect in a material respect.\n> \n> > (2) A determination can be referred for review—\n> > \n> > > (a) by or on behalf of the injured person, or\n> > \n> > > (b) by the insurer of the injured person’s claim, or\n> > \n> > > (c) by the Authority.\n> \n> > (3) The Authority is to convene a panel of 3 assessors to constitute the Review Panel to review the determination of the Assessment Panel.\n> \n> > (4) The Review Panel can confirm the determination of the Assessment Panel or it can revoke that determination, substituting its own determination and giving a certificate as to its determination.","sortOrder":28},{"sectionNumber":"16","sectionType":"section","heading":"Determinations to be binding","content":"#### 16 Determinations to be binding\n\n16 Determinations to be binding\n\n> The determination of an Assessment Panel (or of a Review Panel on the review of an Assessment Panel’s determination) as to whether a motor accident injury satisfies criteria specified in the LTCS Guidelines for eligibility for participation in the Scheme is final and binding for the purposes of this Act and any proceedings under this Act.","sortOrder":29},{"sectionNumber":"17","sectionType":"section","heading":"Costs of assessment","content":"#### 17 Costs of assessment\n\n17 Costs of assessment\n\n> > (1) The costs of determinations and reviews of determinations under this Division are payable by the Authority.\n> \n> > (2) The costs of determinations and reviews under this Division include the necessary costs and expenses of travel and accommodation incurred by the injured person, and by a parent or other carer of the injured person in order to accompany the injured person, in attending a panel for the purposes of the determination or review.","sortOrder":30},{"sectionNumber":"18","sectionType":"section","heading":"No legal costs payable by Authority","content":"#### 18 No legal costs payable by Authority\n\n18 No legal costs payable by Authority\n\n> > (1) No legal costs are payable by the Authority for or in respect of legal services provided to an injured person or an insurer in connection with the referral of a matter for or the making of a determination or review of a determination under this Division.\n> \n> > (2) In this section, legal services and legal costs have the same meanings as in the [Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW)](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2014-16a).\n> \n> **s 18:** Am 2015 No 7, Sch 2.31 \\[1\\].","sortOrder":31},{"sectionNumber":"19","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority monitoring and oversight","content":"#### 19 Authority monitoring and oversight\n\n19 Authority monitoring and oversight\n\n> > (1) Determinations and reviews under this Division are subject to relevant provisions of the LTCS Guidelines relating to the procedures for the referral of disputes for determination or review of determinations and the procedure for determination.\n> \n> > (2) The Authority may arrange for the provision of training and information to assessors to promote accurate and consistent determinations and reviews under this Division.","sortOrder":32},{"sectionNumber":"Division 2","sectionType":"division","heading":"Disputes about motor accident injury","content":"## Division 2 Disputes about motor accident injury\n\nDivision 2 Disputes about motor accident injury","sortOrder":33},{"sectionNumber":"20","sectionType":"section","heading":"Determination of disputes","content":"#### 20 Determination of disputes\n\n20 Determination of disputes\n\n> > (1) An interested person who disputes a decision of the Authority as to whether an injury is a motor accident injury may request the Authority to refer the dispute for determination under this section.\n> \n> > (2) Each of the following is an interested person—\n> > \n> > > (a) the person whose injury is the subject of the Authority’s decision,\n> > \n> > > (b) the insurer of a claim made by the injured person in respect of the injury,\n> > \n> > > (c) the Nominal Defendant.\n> \n> > (3) The Authority is to refer the dispute to the President for the determination of the Commission under Part 4.4 of the [Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1999-041).\n> > \n> > Note.\n> > \n> > Part 4 of Schedule 4 to the [Personal Injury Commission Act 2020](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2020-018) requires the Commission to be constituted by 3 general members of the Commission assigned to the Motor Accidents Division of the Commission.\n> \n> > (4) The Commission is to determine the dispute and certify in writing as to its determination giving reasons for its determination.\n> \n> > (5) The Commission’s determination as to whether an injury is a motor accident injury is final and binding for the purposes of this Act and any proceedings under this Act.\n> \n> **s 20:** Am 2020 No 18, Sch 6.8\\[1\\] \\[2\\].","sortOrder":34},{"sectionNumber":"21","sectionType":"section","heading":"Legal costs","content":"#### 21 Legal costs\n\n21 Legal costs\n\n> > (1) The Commission determining a dispute under this Division is to include in its determination a determination of the amount of the reasonable legal costs payable by the injured person for or in respect of legal services provided to the person in connection with the referral for determination of and the determination of the dispute.\n> \n> > (2) The Authority is to pay those reasonable legal costs of the injured person as assessed by the Commission. No other legal costs are payable by the Authority for or in respect of legal services provided to an interested person in connection with the referral for determination of and the determination of a dispute under this Division.\n> \n> > (3) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to fixing maximum legal costs for legal services provided to a person in connection with the referral for determination of and the determination of a dispute under this Division.\n> \n> > (4) A legal practitioner is not entitled to be paid or recover for a legal service an amount that exceeds any maximum legal costs fixed for the service by the regulations under this section.\n> \n> > (5) This section does not entitle a legal practitioner to recover legal costs for a legal service or matter that a court or costs assessor determines were unreasonably incurred.\n> \n> > (6) This section and any regulations under this section prevail to the extent of any inconsistency with the legal costs legislation (as defined in section 3A of the [Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2014-016)). An assessment under that legislation of any costs in respect of which provision is made by a regulation under this section is to be made so as to give effect to that regulation.\n> \n> > (7) In this section, legal services and legal costs have the same meanings as in the [Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW)](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2014-16a).\n> \n> **s 21:** Am 2015 No 7, Sch 2.31 \\[2\\] \\[3\\]; 2020 No 18, Sch 6.8\\[2\\].","sortOrder":35},{"sectionNumber":"Part 4","sectionType":"part","heading":"Treatment and care needs assessment","content":"# Part 4 Treatment and care needs assessment\n\nPart 4 Treatment and care needs assessment","sortOrder":36},{"sectionNumber":"22","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 22 Definitions\n\n22 Definitions\n\n> In this Part—\n> \n> assessor means a person appointed under this Part to make an assessment in relation to a disputed assessment under this Part.\n> \n> Review Panel means a panel of assessors convened under this Part to review an assessment under this Part.","sortOrder":37},{"sectionNumber":"23","sectionType":"section","heading":"Assessment of treatment and care needs of participants","content":"#### 23 Assessment of treatment and care needs of participants\n\n23 Assessment of treatment and care needs of participants\n\n> > (1) The Authority is to make an assessment of the treatment and care needs of a participant in the Scheme.\n> \n> > (2) The assessment is an assessment of the participant’s treatment and care needs that are reasonable and necessary in the circumstances, and as relate to the motor accident injury in respect of which the person is a participant in the Scheme.\n> \n> > (3) An assessment of treatment and care needs is to be made in accordance with the LTCS Guidelines.\n> \n> > (4) The Authority is to certify in writing as to its assessment of the treatment and care needs of the participant including its reasons for any finding on which the assessment is based, and is to give a copy of the certificate to the participant.","sortOrder":38},{"sectionNumber":"24","sectionType":"section","heading":"Dispute about Authority’s assessment—determination by assessor","content":"#### 24 Dispute about Authority’s assessment—determination by assessor\n\n24 Dispute about Authority’s assessment—determination by assessor\n\n> > (1) If a participant in the Scheme disputes an assessment or any aspect of an assessment by the Authority of the treatment and care needs of the participant, the Authority must, at the request of the participant, refer the dispute to an assessor for determination.\n> \n> > (2) A participant cannot make such a request more than 28 days after the Authority gives the participant a copy of the Authority’s certificate of assessment of the treatment and care needs of the participant.\n> \n> > (3) The Authority is to appoint health professionals and other suitably qualified persons to be assessors for the purposes of this Part.\n> \n> > (4) The assessor who determines a dispute about the treatment and care needs of a participant is to give a certificate to the Authority and the participant certifying as to the assessor’s determination and setting out the assessor’s reasons for any finding on which the determination is based.","sortOrder":39},{"sectionNumber":"25","sectionType":"section","heading":"Review of assessor’s determination","content":"#### 25 Review of assessor’s determination\n\n25 Review of assessor’s determination\n\n> > (1) The Authority or a participant can refer an assessor’s determination of a dispute about the treatment and care needs of the participant for review by a Review Panel, but only on one or more of the following grounds—\n> > \n> > > (a) the availability of additional relevant information about the treatment and care needs of the participant, being information that was not available, or could not reasonably have been obtained, at the time of the assessor’s determination and that is capable of having a material effect on the determination,\n> > \n> > > (b) the assessor’s determination was not made in accordance with the LTCS Guidelines,\n> > \n> > > (c) the assessor’s determination is demonstrably incorrect in a material respect.\n> \n> > (2) An assessor’s determination can be referred for review not later than 28 days after the assessor’s certificate of determination is given to the Authority and the participant.\n> \n> > (3) The Authority is to convene a panel of 3 assessors to constitute the Review Panel for the review of an assessor’s determination.\n> \n> > (4) On its review, the Review Panel can confirm the assessor’s determination or can revoke the assessor’s determination and substitute its own determination, giving the Authority and the participant a certificate of the determination and setting out the Review Panel’s reasons for any finding on which its determination is based.\n> \n> > (5) In conducting its review, a Review Panel must take into account any written submissions prepared by or on behalf of the participant that are submitted to the Panel.","sortOrder":40},{"sectionNumber":"26","sectionType":"section","heading":"Effect of assessment","content":"#### 26 Effect of assessment\n\n26 Effect of assessment\n\n> > (1) The Authority’s assessment of the treatment and care needs of a participant is final and binding for the purposes of this Act and any proceedings under this Act.\n> \n> > (2) The Authority is to revise its assessment to make any changes that may be necessary to give effect to any determination by an assessor or Review Panel of a dispute about those treatment and care needs.\n> \n> > (3) The Authority’s assessment of the treatment and care needs of a participant supersedes any earlier assessment by the Authority of those needs.","sortOrder":41},{"sectionNumber":"27","sectionType":"section","heading":"Co-operation of participant","content":"#### 27 Co-operation of participant\n\n27 Co-operation of participant\n\n> A participant in the Scheme must comply with any reasonable request made by the Authority or an assessor in connection with an assessment of or dispute about the treatment and care needs of the participant, including a request to undergo a medical examination or other examination by a health professional.","sortOrder":42},{"sectionNumber":"28","sectionType":"section","heading":"LTCS Guidelines","content":"#### 28 LTCS Guidelines\n\n28 LTCS Guidelines\n\n> > (1) The LTCS Guidelines may make provision for or with respect to the assessment of the treatment and care needs of a participant in the Scheme.\n> \n> > (2) In particular, the LTCS Guidelines may make provision for or with respect to the following—\n> > \n> > > (a) the procedures to be followed in connection with such an assessment,\n> > \n> > > (b) the intervals at which such assessments are to be carried out,\n> > \n> > > (c) the methods and criteria to be used to determine the treatment and care needs of participants,\n> > \n> > > (d) the information to be provided by participants for the purposes of or in connection with assessments.\n> \n> > (3) An assessment of the treatment and care needs of a participant in the Scheme is to be carried out in accordance with the LTCS Guidelines.","sortOrder":43},{"sectionNumber":"29","sectionType":"section","heading":"No legal costs payable for assessment or review","content":"#### 29 No legal costs payable for assessment or review\n\n29 No legal costs payable for assessment or review\n\n> > (1) No legal costs are payable by the Authority for or in respect of legal services provided to a participant in the Scheme in connection with an assessment under this Part of the treatment and care needs of the participant or the determination or review of a determination under this Part of a dispute about such an assessment.\n> \n> > (2) In this section, legal services and legal costs have the same meanings as in the [Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW)](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2014-16a).\n> \n> **s 29:** Am 2015 No 7, Sch 2.31 \\[4\\].","sortOrder":44},{"sectionNumber":"Part 5","sectionType":"part","heading":"Payments to hospitals, doctors and others","content":"# Part 5 Payments to hospitals, doctors and others\n\nPart 5 Payments to hospitals, doctors and others","sortOrder":45},{"sectionNumber":"30","sectionType":"section","heading":"Bulk billing arrangements for hospital, ambulance and other expenses","content":"#### 30 Bulk billing arrangements for hospital, ambulance and other expenses\n\n30 Bulk billing arrangements for hospital, ambulance and other expenses\n\n> > (1) Bulk billing arrangements may be entered into by the Authority with respect to—\n> > \n> > > (a) the payment of expenses incurred in connection with the treatment of participants in the Scheme at hospitals, or\n> > \n> > > (b) the payment of expenses incurred in transporting participants in the Scheme by ambulance, or\n> > \n> > > (c) the payment of other treatment expenses incurred by participants in the Scheme.\n> \n> > (2) A bulk billing arrangement is an arrangement made with the Minister for Health, the State Insurance Regulatory Authority, service providers or others acting on their behalf for the payment by the Authority of any such expenses of participants in the Scheme at the rate provided by the arrangement.\n> \n> > (3) For the purposes of this section, the treatment or transport of participants in the Scheme includes the treatment or transport of persons classified as participants in the Scheme in accordance with a bulk billing arrangement.\n> \n> **s 30:** Am 2015 No 19, Sch 8 \\[3\\].","sortOrder":46},{"sectionNumber":"31","sectionType":"section","heading":"Payment of hospital, ambulance, medical and other expenses not covered by bulk billing arrangement","content":"#### 31 Payment of hospital, ambulance, medical and other expenses not covered by bulk billing arrangement\n\n31 Payment of hospital, ambulance, medical and other expenses not covered by bulk billing arrangement\n\n> > (1) This section applies to—\n> > \n> > > (a) payment for the treatment of participants in the Scheme at hospitals, and\n> > \n> > > (b) payment for conveying participants in the Scheme by ambulance, and\n> > \n> > > (c) payment for any medical or dental treatment of, or rehabilitation services provided to, participants in the Scheme,\n> > \n> > in any case where payment for the expenses concerned has not been made, and is not required to be made in accordance with a bulk billing arrangement under this Part.\n> \n> > (2) The rate at which such a payment is required to be made by the Authority under this Act is as follows—\n> > \n> > > (a) in the case of treatment at public hospitals—at the rate determined by the Minister for Health by order published in the Gazette,\n> > \n> > > (b) in any case in which a maximum rate is fixed under section 32—at the maximum rate so fixed,\n> > \n> > > (c) in a case to which a rate referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) does not apply—at the rate reasonably appropriate to the treatment or service having regard to the customary charge made in the community for the treatment or service.\n> \n> > (3) If the Authority does not make that payment, the body or person who provided the treatment or service to which the payment relates may recover the payment from the Authority as a debt in a court of competent jurisdiction.","sortOrder":47},{"sectionNumber":"32","sectionType":"section","heading":"Maximum fees payable for medical treatment and other treatment or services not provided at hospitals or for treatment at private hospitals","content":"#### 32 Maximum fees payable for medical treatment and other treatment or services not provided at hospitals or for treatment at private hospitals\n\n32 Maximum fees payable for medical treatment and other treatment or services not provided at hospitals or for treatment at private hospitals\n\n> > (1) This section applies to—\n> > \n> > > (a) the fee payable for any medical treatment of a participant in the Scheme, and\n> > \n> > > (b) the fee payable for any dental treatment of a participant in the Scheme, and\n> > \n> > > (c) the fee payable for any rehabilitation service provided to a participant in the Scheme, and\n> > \n> > > (d) the fees payable for any attendant care services provided to a participant in the Scheme,\n> > \n> > but does not apply to any such treatment or service that is provided at a hospital (whether to an in-patient or out-patient) and for which any payment is required to be made to the hospital and not to the treatment or service provider.\n> \n> > (2) This section also applies to the fee payable to a private hospital for any treatment at the hospital.\n> \n> > (3) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to fixing the maximum amount for which the Authority is liable in respect of any claim for fees to which this section applies.\n> \n> > (4) Any such fees may (but need not) be fixed by reference to fees recommended by the Australian Medical Association or other professional association or by reference to any schedule of fees.\n> \n> > (5) A payment by the Authority in respect of a service provided in connection with the treatment and care needs of a participant in the Scheme is to be made consistently with any regulations under this section.\n> \n> > (6) This section does not prevent the inclusion in the LTCS Guidelines of provision as to the appropriate allowance for fees to which this section applies and that are not fixed by regulations under this section.","sortOrder":48},{"sectionNumber":"Part 6","sectionType":"part","heading":"Administration","content":"# Part 6 Administration\n\nPart 6 Administration","sortOrder":49},{"sectionNumber":"33","sectionType":"section","heading":"Constitution of Authority","content":"#### 33 Constitution of Authority\n\n33 Constitution of Authority\n\n> > (1) There is constituted by this Act a corporation with the corporate name of the Lifetime Care and Support Authority of New South Wales.\n> \n> > (2) The Authority is, for the purposes of any Act, a statutory body representing the Crown.","sortOrder":51},{"sectionNumber":"34","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 34\n\n34–36 (Repealed)","sortOrder":52},{"sectionNumber":"37","sectionType":"section","heading":"Financial year","content":"#### 37 Financial year\n\n37 Financial year\n\n> > (1) The financial year of the Authority is the year commencing on 1 July.\n> \n> > (2) However, the financial year of the Authority is to be the annual reporting period (if any) for the Authority if the Treasurer has made a determination under section 2.10 of the [Government Sector Finance Act 2018](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2018-055) for that period to be different from the period referred to in subsection (1).\n> \n> **s 37:** Am 2018 No 70, Sch 4.68.","sortOrder":54},{"sectionNumber":"38","sectionType":"section","heading":"Ministerial directions","content":"#### 38 Ministerial directions\n\n38 Ministerial directions\n\n> > (1) If the Minister is satisfied that it is desirable in the public interest to do so, the Minister may, by notice in writing to the Authority, give directions with respect to the functions of the Authority.\n> \n> > (2) The Minister cannot give a direction under this section with respect to the Authority’s functions under section 49.\n> \n> > (3) The Authority must comply with any direction given under this section by the Minister.\n> \n> > (4) The Authority must include in its annual report particulars of each direction given under this section during the year to which the report relates.\n> \n> > (5) Except as provided by this section, the Authority is not, in the exercise of its functions, subject to the control and direction of the Minister.\n> \n> **s 38:** Am 2012 No 54, Sch 3.2 \\[5\\]–\\[8\\]. Subst 2015 No 19, Sch 8 \\[4\\]. Am 2017 No 10, Sch 5.10 \\[3\\].","sortOrder":56},{"sectionNumber":"39","sectionType":"section","heading":"Chief executive of Authority","content":"#### 39 Chief executive of Authority\n\n39 Chief executive of Authority\n\n> > (1) The Minister is to appoint a person as the chief executive of the Authority.\n> > \n> > Note.\n> > \n> > Schedule 1 contains provisions relating to the chief executive of the Authority.\n> \n> > (2) The affairs of the Authority are to be managed and controlled by the chief executive.\n> \n> > (3) Any act, matter or thing done in the name of, or on behalf of, the Authority by the chief executive is taken to have been done by the Authority.\n> \n> **s 39:** Rep 2012 No 54, Sch 3.2 \\[4\\]. Ins 2015 No 19, Sch 8 \\[5\\].","sortOrder":57},{"sectionNumber":"40","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 40\n\n40 (Repealed)","sortOrder":58},{"sectionNumber":"41","sectionType":"section","heading":"Delegation of functions","content":"#### 41 Delegation of functions\n\n41 Delegation of functions\n\n> > (1) The Authority may delegate to an authorised person any of the functions of the Authority (other than this power of delegation), including any function provided for by a care and support arrangement under section 43A.\n> \n> > (2) In this section—\n> > \n> > authorised person means any of the following—\n> > \n> > > (a) a member of staff of Insurance and Care NSW,\n> > \n> > > (b) any person, or any class of persons, authorised for the purposes of this section by the regulations.\n> \n> > (3) (Repealed)\n> \n> **s 41:** Am 2009 No 96, Sch 14 \\[4\\]; 2012 No 54, Sch 3.2 \\[9\\]; 2014 No 77, Sch 1 \\[2\\]; 2015 No 19, Sch 8 \\[6\\].","sortOrder":60},{"sectionNumber":"42","sectionType":"section","heading":"Seal of Authority","content":"#### 42 Seal of Authority\n\n42 Seal of Authority\n\n> The seal of the Authority is to be kept by the chief executive and may be affixed to a document only—\n> \n> > (a) in the presence of the chief executive or a member of staff of the Authority who is authorised for the purpose by the chief executive, and\n> \n> > (b) with an attestation by the signature of the chief executive or that member of staff of the fact of the affixing of the seal.\n> \n> **s 42:** Am 2009 No 96, Sch 14 \\[4\\] \\[5\\]; 2012 No 54, Sch 3.2 \\[10\\] \\[11\\]; 2015 No 19, Sch 8 \\[7\\].","sortOrder":61},{"sectionNumber":"Division 3","sectionType":"division","heading":"Functions of Authority","content":"## Division 3 Functions of Authority\n\nDivision 3 Functions of Authority","sortOrder":62},{"sectionNumber":"43","sectionType":"section","heading":"Functions of Authority","content":"#### 43 Functions of Authority\n\n43 Functions of Authority\n\n> > (1) The Authority has such functions as are conferred or imposed on it by or under this or any other Act.\n> \n> > (2) The Authority also has the following functions—\n> > \n> > > (a) to monitor the operation of the Scheme under this Act, and in particular to conduct (or arrange for other persons to conduct) research into and to collect statistics in relation to the operation of the Scheme,\n> > \n> > > (b) to advise the Minister as to the administration, efficiency and effectiveness of the Scheme,\n> > \n> > > (b1) to provide the Minister with such information as the Minister may request,\n> > \n> > > (c) to publicise and disseminate information concerning the Scheme,\n> > \n> > > (d) to issue and keep under review the LTCS Guidelines under this Act.\n> > \n> > > (e), (f) (Repealed)\n> \n> > (3) The Authority has the following functions in relation to the provision of care, treatment, rehabilitation, long term support and other services for persons who have sustained motor accident injuries—\n> > \n> > > (a) to monitor those services,\n> > \n> > > (b) to provide support and funding for programs that will improve delivery of those services,\n> > \n> > > (c) to provide support and funding for research and education in connection with the delivery of those services.\n> \n> > (4), (5) (Repealed)\n> \n> **s 43:** Am 2012 No 54, Sch 3.2 \\[12\\] \\[13\\]; 2015 No 19, Sch 8 \\[8\\] \\[9\\].","sortOrder":63},{"sectionNumber":"43A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Functions of the Authority under other care and support schemes","content":"#### 43A Functions of the Authority under other care and support schemes\n\n43A Functions of the Authority under other care and support schemes\n\n> > (1) The Authority may, with the approval of the Minister and the Treasurer, enter into an arrangement (a care and support arrangement) that provides for the Authority to exercise all or specified functions of a relevant authority under a care and support scheme that is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section.\n> \n> > (2) A care and support arrangement is to be entered into by agreement between the Authority and the relevant authority concerned and can include provision for or with respect to any matter that is necessary or convenient in connection with the conferring of functions on the Authority including (without limitation) any of the following matters—\n> > \n> > > (a) the manner in which the Authority is to exercise functions under the arrangement,\n> > \n> > > (b) the administrative arrangements for the exercise of functions under the arrangement, including funding arrangements,\n> > \n> > > (c) the sharing of information between the Authority and the relevant authority in connection with the operation of the arrangement and the exercise of functions under the arrangement,\n> > \n> > > (d) such other matters as may be prescribed by the regulations.\n> \n> > (3) The Authority has the functions provided for by a care and support arrangement entered into under this section and is to exercise those functions in accordance with the arrangement. Functions exercised by the Authority under a care and support arrangement are exercised for and on behalf of the relevant authority.\n> \n> > (4) A care and support arrangement can provide for the exercise of functions by the Authority outside the State.\n> \n> > (4A) This section does not apply to the functions of the Authority under the [Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2017-010) or any agreement with the Authority under that Act.\n> \n> > (5) In this section—\n> > \n> > care and support scheme means a law of the State or of another State or Territory or of the Commonwealth that makes provision for—\n> > \n> > > (a) a scheme that is substantially the same as or similar to the Scheme under this Act, or\n> > \n> > > (b) a scheme for the payment of compensation or the provision of other care and support to persons who have suffered injury (whether or not caused by a motor accident).\n> > \n> > relevant authority means a person or body that has functions under a care and support scheme (including functions under a contract of insurance required or provided for by a care and support scheme).\n> \n> **s 43A:** Ins 2014 No 77, Sch 1 \\[3\\]. Am 2017 No 10, Sch 5.10 \\[4\\].","sortOrder":64},{"sectionNumber":"Division 4","sectionType":"division","heading":null,"content":"## Division 4\n\nDivision 4\n\n44–46 (Repealed)\n\n**pt 6, div 4:** Rep 2012 No 54, Sch 3.2 \\[14\\].\n\n**s 44:** Rep 2012 No 54, Sch 3.2 \\[14\\].\n\n**s 45:** Am 2010 No 98, Sch 2 \\[2\\] \\[3\\]. Rep 2012 No 54, Sch 3.2 \\[14\\].\n\n**s 46:** Rep 2012 No 54, Sch 3.2 \\[14\\].","sortOrder":65},{"sectionNumber":"Part 7","sectionType":"part","heading":"Funding of the Scheme","content":"# Part 7 Funding of the Scheme\n\nPart 7 Funding of the Scheme","sortOrder":66},{"sectionNumber":"47","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 47 Definitions\n\n47 Definitions\n\n> In this Part—\n> \n> financial year means a year commencing on 1 July.\n> \n> licensed insurer has the same meaning as in the [Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1999-041).\n> \n> third-party policy has the same meaning as in the [Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1999-041).","sortOrder":67},{"sectionNumber":"48","sectionType":"section","heading":"Lifetime Care and Support Authority Fund","content":"#### 48 Lifetime Care and Support Authority Fund\n\n48 Lifetime Care and Support Authority Fund\n\n> > (1) There is established a fund, to be known as the Lifetime Care and Support Authority Fund, belonging to and vested in the Authority.\n> \n> > (2) The following is to be paid into the Fund—\n> > \n> > > (a) the appropriate proportion of the money contributed by third-party policy holders under Division 10.4 of the [Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2017-010) in respect of a relevant period (being the proportion that is the required contribution to the Fund determined under section 49 in respect of that relevant period),\n> > \n> > > (b) the interest from time to time accruing from the investment of the Fund,\n> > \n> > > (c) money required to be paid into the Fund by or under this or any other Act,\n> > \n> > > (c1) (Repealed)\n> > \n> > > (d) all other money received by the Authority and not otherwise appropriated.\n> \n> > (3) The following is to be paid from the Fund—\n> > \n> > > (a) all payments required to be made by the Authority under Part 2A (Payments under Scheme),\n> > \n> > > (b) all payments required to meet expenditure incurred by or on behalf of a NSW Government agency in providing services (including staff and facilities) for or in connection with the Scheme,\n> > \n> > > (b1) all payments (as approved by the Minister administering Part 3 of the [State Insurance and Care Governance Act 2015](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-019)) required to meet expenditure incurred by the State Insurance Regulatory Authority in exercising functions in connection with the Scheme,\n> > \n> > > (c) (Repealed)\n> > \n> > > (d) all payments required to meet expenditure incurred in relation to the functions of the Authority, where money is not otherwise provided for that purpose,\n> > \n> > > (e) all other money required by or under this or any other Act to be paid from the Fund.\n> \n> > (3A) (Repealed)\n> \n> > (4) The Authority may invest money in the Fund that is not immediately required for the purposes of the Fund—\n> > \n> > > (a) if the Authority is a GSF agency for the purposes of Part 6 of the [Government Sector Finance Act 2018](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2018-055)—in any way that the Authority is permitted to invest money under that Part, or\n> > \n> > > (b) if the Authority is not a GSF agency for the purposes of Part 6 of the [Government Sector Finance Act 2018](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2018-055)—in any way approved by the Minister with the concurrence of the Treasurer.\n> \n> **s 48:** Am 2009 No 96, Sch 14 \\[6\\]; 2012 No 48, Sch 1 \\[7\\]; 2012 No 54, Sch 3.2 \\[15\\]–\\[19\\]; 2015 No 19, Sch 8 \\[10\\]–\\[12\\]; 2017 No 10, Sch 5.10 \\[5\\]; 2018 No 70, Sch 3.44.","sortOrder":68},{"sectionNumber":"48A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Separate accounting for care and support arrangements","content":"#### 48A Separate accounting for care and support arrangements\n\n48A Separate accounting for care and support arrangements\n\n> > (1) Each care and support arrangement is to have a separate account established for it within the Fund.\n> \n> > (2) Amounts payable to or by the Authority under a care and support arrangement are to be accounted for separately within the Fund by being paid into or from the separate account established for the arrangement.\n> \n> > (3) A liability of the Authority under a care and support arrangement is not a liability of the Fund except to the extent that the liability can be satisfied out of money standing to the credit of the separate account established for the arrangement within the Fund.\n> \n> > (4) Accordingly, an amount required to be paid under a care and support arrangement can only be paid from the separate account established for the arrangement but this does not prevent the use of other money in the Fund for the payment of such an amount pursuant to the provision of temporary financial accommodation (including by the making of an advance to the separate account established for the arrangement) that is repaid from the separate account.\n> \n> > (5) The Authority is to have no regard to a liability of the Authority under a care and support arrangement in making a determination under section 49 (Determination by Authority of amount to be contributed to Fund).\n> \n> > (6) In this section—\n> > \n> > care and support arrangement means a care and support arrangement entered into under section 43A.\n> \n> **s 48A:** Ins 2014 No 77, Sch 1 \\[4\\].","sortOrder":69},{"sectionNumber":"49","sectionType":"section","heading":"Determination by Authority of amount to be contributed to Fund","content":"#### 49 Determination by Authority of amount to be contributed to Fund\n\n49 Determination by Authority of amount to be contributed to Fund\n\n> > (1) The Authority is to determine, before the beginning of each relevant period, the amount required to be contributed to the Fund—\n> > \n> > > (a) to fully fund the present and likely future liabilities of the Authority under Part 2A (Payments under Scheme) in respect of persons who become participants in the Scheme in respect of motor accident injuries suffered during that period, and\n> > \n> > > (b) to meet the payments required to be made from the Fund (other than payments under Part 2A) during that period, and\n> > \n> > > (c) to make provision for such other matters as the Authority should, in all the circumstances, prudently make provision for in connection with liabilities under Part 2A.\n> \n> > (2) The amount required to fully fund a liability of the Authority under Part 2A is an amount that is sufficient to provide a sum of money that together with anticipated investment income is equal to the best estimate of the cost of meeting the liability (in inflated dollars) as and when the liability falls due.\n> \n> > (3) The Authority’s determination in respect of a relevant period is to be made in accordance with the report of an independent actuary engaged by the Authority to report to the Authority on the amount required to be contributed to the Fund as referred to in subsection (1).\n> \n> > (4) A relevant period is a financial year or such other period as the Authority determines from time to time to be a relevant period for the purposes of this section. Relevant periods can be determined so as to overlap but there must be no gap between successive relevant periods and each relevant period must not be longer than 12 months.\n> \n> > (5) The amount determined by the Authority under this section for a relevant period is the required Fund contribution for that period.\n> \n> Note.\n> \n> The required Fund contribution is contributed as part of the Fund levy under Division 10.4 of the [Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2017-010).\n> \n> **s 49:** Am 2012 No 48, Sch 1 \\[7\\] \\[8\\]; 2015 No 19, Sch 8 \\[13\\]; 2017 No 10, Sch 5.10 \\[6\\].","sortOrder":70},{"sectionNumber":"50","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 50\n\n50–53 (Repealed)","sortOrder":71},{"sectionNumber":"54","sectionType":"section","heading":"Recovery of lifetime care and support payments—uninsured and interstate vehicles and third party tortfeasors","content":"#### 54 Recovery of lifetime care and support payments—uninsured and interstate vehicles and third party tortfeasors\n\n54 Recovery of lifetime care and support payments—uninsured and interstate vehicles and third party tortfeasors\n\n> > (1) The Authority is entitled to recover from the appropriate person as a debt due to the Authority the present value of its treatment and care liabilities in respect of the motor accident injury of a participant in the Scheme if—\n> > \n> > > (a) the injury was caused by the fault of the owner or driver of a motor vehicle in the use or operation of the vehicle, and\n> > \n> > > (b) at the time of the motor accident there was no third-party policy in force in relation to the motor vehicle concerned.\n> \n> > (2) If the participant suffered the motor accident injury as a result partly of the participant’s contributory negligence, the amount that the Authority is entitled to recover under this section is to be reduced in proportion to the participant’s share in the responsibility for the injury.\n> \n> > (3) If the participant suffered the motor accident injury as a result partly of the fault of a person (other than the owner or driver of a motor vehicle), the Authority is entitled to recover from that person as a debt due to the Authority such proportion of the present value of its treatment and care liabilities in respect of the injury as corresponds to the person’s share in the responsibility for the injury.\n> \n> > (4) The present value of the Authority’s treatment and care liabilities in respect of a motor accident injury is the sum of the following amounts—\n> > \n> > > (a) amounts already paid by the Authority under Part 2A in respect of the treatment and care needs associated with the motor accident injury,\n> > \n> > > (b) the present value of the amounts that the Authority estimates will become payable by the Authority in the future under Part 2A in respect of the treatment and care needs associated with the motor accident injury.\n> \n> > (5) The appropriate person from whom the Authority may recover is—\n> > \n> > > (a) unless paragraph (b) applies—the person who at the time of the motor accident was the owner of the motor vehicle or, if at that time some other person was driving the motor vehicle, the owner and the driver jointly or either of them severally, or\n> > \n> > > (b) if the motor vehicle was at the time of the motor accident subject to coverage under a policy of compulsory third-party personal injury insurance or a compulsory motor vehicle accident compensation scheme under the law of a place other than New South Wales or under a law of the Commonwealth—the insurer under that policy or the person liable under that scheme.\n> \n> > (6) The Authority is entitled to recover under this section in respect of a motor accident injury of a participant in the Scheme only if the injury is an injury to which Chapter 3 of the [Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1999-041) applies (as provided by section 3B of that Act).\n> \n> > (7) It is a sufficient defence in any proceedings to recover under this section against the owner (whether severally or jointly with the driver) of a motor vehicle if the owner establishes to the satisfaction of the court that, at the time of the occurrence, some other person was driving the motor vehicle without the owner’s authority.\n> \n> > (8) It is a sufficient defence in any proceedings to recover under this section against the driver of a motor vehicle (whether severally or jointly with the owner) if the driver establishes to the satisfaction of the court that, at the time of the occurrence, the driver was driving the motor vehicle with the authority of the owner (or had reasonable grounds for believing and did in fact believe that the driver had such authority) and that the driver had reasonable grounds for believing and did in fact believe that a third-party policy was in force in relation to the motor vehicle.\n> \n> > (9) The Authority is not entitled to recover under this section from the owner or driver of a motor vehicle that, at the relevant time, was not required to be registered or was exempt from registration or, if required to be registered, was not required to be insured under the [Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1999-041).\n> \n> > (10) The certificate of the Authority as to the present value of the Authority’s treatment and care liabilities in respect of a motor accident injury is evidence of the matters certified for the purposes of any proceedings in connection with this section.\n> \n> > (11) This section does not permit the Authority to recover the present value of its treatment and care liabilities in respect of injuries to a participant in the Scheme if the participant paid an amount to the Authority under section 7A (1) in respect of those injuries.\n> \n> **s 54:** Am 2009 No 33, Sch 1 \\[5\\]; 2012 No 48, Sch 1 \\[8\\].","sortOrder":73},{"sectionNumber":"55","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 55\n\n55 (Repealed)","sortOrder":74},{"sectionNumber":"Part 8","sectionType":"part","heading":"Miscellaneous","content":"# Part 8 Miscellaneous\n\nPart 8 Miscellaneous","sortOrder":76},{"sectionNumber":"56","sectionType":"section","heading":"No contracting out of Act","content":"#### 56 No contracting out of Act\n\n56 No contracting out of Act\n\n> This Act applies despite any contract to the contrary.","sortOrder":77},{"sectionNumber":"57","sectionType":"section","heading":"Act to bind Crown","content":"#### 57 Act to bind Crown\n\n57 Act to bind Crown\n\n> This Act binds the Crown, not only in right of New South Wales but also, so far as the legislative power of Parliament permits, the Crown in all its other capacities.","sortOrder":78},{"sectionNumber":"58","sectionType":"section","heading":"LTCS Guidelines","content":"#### 58 LTCS Guidelines\n\n58 LTCS Guidelines\n\n> > (1) The Authority may issue guidelines (LTCS Guidelines) for or with respect to any matter that by this Act is required or permitted to be the subject of those guidelines.\n> \n> > (2) The Authority may amend, revoke or replace LTCS Guidelines.\n> \n> > (3) LTCS Guidelines may adopt the provisions of other publications, whether with or without modification or addition and whether in force at a particular time or from time to time.\n> \n> > (4) LTCS Guidelines (including any amendment, revocation or replacement) are to be published in the Gazette and take effect on the day of that publication or, if a later day is specified in the guidelines for that purpose, on the day so specified.\n> \n> > (5) Sections 40 (Notice of statutory rules to be tabled) and 41 (Disallowance of statutory rules) of the [Interpretation Act 1987](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1987-015) apply to a guideline under this section in the same way as those sections apply to a statutory rule.\n> \n> Editorial note.\n> \n> For guidelines issued pursuant to this section see Gazettes No 118 of 22.9.2006, p 8155; No 132 of 28.9.2007, p 7511; No 119 of 8.10.2010, p 5105; No 54 of 25.5.2012, pp 2245, 2248, 2251, 2253, 2254, No 126 of 19.12.2014, p 4704 and No 124 of 21.11.2018, n2018-3969. From April 2021, PCO is no longer updating notes in provisions of in force titles about related gazette notices. To search for related gazette notices, please use the Gazette Search functionality.","sortOrder":79},{"sectionNumber":"59","sectionType":"section","heading":"Service of documents on Authority or Advisory Council","content":"#### 59 Service of documents on Authority or Advisory Council\n\n59 Service of documents on Authority or Advisory Council\n\n> > (1) A document may be served on the Authority by leaving it at, or by sending it by post addressed to, the Authority’s office or, if it has more than one office, any of its offices.\n> \n> > (2) Nothing in this section affects the operation of any provision of a law or of the rules of a court authorising a document to be served on the Authority in any other manner.\n> \n> **s 59:** Am 2012 No 54, Sch 3.2 \\[18\\].","sortOrder":80},{"sectionNumber":"60","sectionType":"section","heading":"Exchange of information","content":"#### 60 Exchange of information\n\n60 Exchange of information\n\n> The Authority is authorised to exchange information concerning the treatment and care needs of participants (including the expenses that are paid or payable by the Authority under the Scheme in relation to those needs) with licensed insurers within the meaning of the [Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1999-041) and such other persons or bodies as may be approved by the Authority.","sortOrder":81},{"sectionNumber":"61","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 61\n\n61 (Repealed)","sortOrder":82},{"sectionNumber":"62","sectionType":"section","heading":"Protection of assessors","content":"#### 62 Protection of assessors\n\n62 Protection of assessors\n\n> > (1) A matter or thing done or omitted to be done by an assessor under Part 3 or 4 in the exercise of the assessor’s functions does not, if the matter or thing was done or omitted in good faith, subject the assessor personally to any action, liability, claim or demand.\n> \n> > (2) An assessor under Part 3 or 4 is, in any legal proceedings, competent but not compellable to give evidence or produce documents in respect of any matter in which he or she was involved in the course of the exercise of his or her functions as an assessor.\n> \n> > (3) Any liability that would attach to a person were it not for the operation of subsection (1) attaches instead to the Crown.","sortOrder":84},{"sectionNumber":"63","sectionType":"section","heading":"Regulations","content":"#### 63 Regulations\n\n63 Regulations\n\n> The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, for or with respect to any matter that by this Act is required or permitted to be prescribed or that is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.","sortOrder":85},{"sectionNumber":"64","sectionType":"section","heading":"Nature of proceedings for offences","content":"#### 64 Nature of proceedings for offences\n\n64 Nature of proceedings for offences\n\n> Proceedings for an offence under this Act or the regulations may be dealt with summarily before the Local Court.\n> \n> **s 64:** Am 2007 No 94, Sch 2.","sortOrder":86},{"sectionNumber":"65","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 65\n\n65 (Repealed)","sortOrder":87},{"sectionNumber":"66","sectionType":"section","heading":"Auditor-General to report on Costing Study","content":"#### 66 Auditor-General to report on Costing Study\n\n66 Auditor-General to report on Costing Study\n\n> > (1) In this section—\n> > \n> > Costing Study means the study entitled NSW CTP No-Fault Long Term Care Costing Study prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers Actuarial Pty Ltd (ACN 003 562 696) and issued on 17 June 2005, which forms the Appendix to the New South Wales Government publication entitled Lifetime care and support for people with a catastrophic injury from a motor vehicle accident(ISBN 1 876958 22 7) issued by the Motor Accidents Authority in June 2005.\n> \n> > (2) The Auditor-General is to conduct a review of the Costing Study in order to determine whether the assumptions and costing projections set out in the Study are soundly based.\n> \n> > (3) The Auditor-General must, as soon as practicable after the expiration of the period of 6 months commencing on the date of assent to this Act, prepare a report on the conclusions reached on that review and furnish a copy of the report to the Minister.\n> \n> > (4) The Minister is to lay (or cause to be laid) a copy of the report before both Houses of Parliament as soon as practicable after the Minister receives the report.\n> \n> > (5) If a House of Parliament is not sitting when the Minister seeks to lay a report before it, the Minister may present copies of the report to the Clerk of the House concerned.\n> \n> > (6) The report—\n> > \n> > > (a) is, on presentation and for all purposes, taken to have been laid before the House, and\n> > \n> > > (b) may be printed by authority of the Clerk of the House, and\n> > \n> > > (c) if so printed, is for all purposes taken to be a document published by or under the authority of the House, and\n> > \n> > > (d) is to be recorded—\n> > > \n> > > > (i) in the case of the Legislative Council, in the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Legislative Council, and\n> > > \n> > > > (ii) in the case of the Legislative Assembly, in the Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly,\n> > > \n> > > on the first sitting day of the House after receipt of the report by the Clerk.","sortOrder":89},{"sectionNumber":"67","sectionType":"section","heading":"Review of Act","content":"#### 67 Review of Act\n\n67 Review of Act\n\n> > (1) The Minister is to review this Act to determine whether the policy objectives of the Act remain valid and whether the terms of the Act remain appropriate for securing those objectives.\n> \n> > (2) The review is to be undertaken as soon as possible after the period of 5 years from the date of assent to this Act.\n> \n> > (3) A report on the outcome of the review is to be tabled in each House of Parliament within 12 months after the end of the period of 5 years.","sortOrder":90},{"sectionNumber":"68","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 68\n\n68 (Repealed)","sortOrder":91},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 1","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Provisions relating to chief executive","content":"# Schedule 1 Provisions relating to chief executive\n\nSchedule 1 Provisions relating to chief executive\n\n(Section 39)\n\n**sch 1:** Am 2010 No 98, Sch 2 \\[4\\]. Rep 2012 No 54, Sch 3.2 \\[20\\]. Ins 2015 No 19, Sch 8 \\[16\\].","sortOrder":93},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 2","sectionType":"schedule","heading":null,"content":"# Schedule 2\n\nSchedule 2 (Repealed)\n\n**sch 2:** Am 2010 No 98, Sch 2 \\[5\\]. Rep 2012 No 54, Sch 3.2 \\[21\\].","sortOrder":100},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 3","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Savings, transitional and other provisions","content":"# Schedule 3 Savings, transitional and other provisions\n\nSchedule 3 Savings, transitional and other provisions\n\n**sch 3:** Subst 2009 No 33, Sch 1 \\[7\\]. Am 2010 No 98, Sch 2 \\[6\\]; 2012 No 48, Sch 1 \\[9\\] \\[10\\]; 2015 No 19, Sch 8 \\[17\\].","sortOrder":101}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 2006 Act focused on catastrophically injured participants from traditional motor vehicle accidents. Over time, the scope has expanded and refined — eligibility criteria have been adjusted, the range of covered treatments and supports has broadened, administrative arrangements have been restructured (notably through creation of icare), and there are pending amendments to extend coverage to micromobility vehicles such as e-scooters, which were not contemplated in the original legislation."},"complexity_factors":["Involves an ongoing administrative scheme with a dedicated government authority, not just a simple set of rules","Eligibility criteria and assessment processes for 'catastrophic injury' classification can be technically complex","Interaction with other legislation — particularly the broader Motor Accidents Compensation Act and CTP insurance framework — creates interdependencies that are hard to navigate in isolation","Numerous amendments over 15+ years mean the current law looks quite different from the original, requiring careful version tracking","Funding and levy mechanisms tied to the broader insurance system add financial/regulatory complexity","Pending but uncommenced amendments (micromobility vehicles) create uncertainty about the current scope","Dispute resolution and review mechanisms for participants who disagree with coverage decisions add procedural layers"],"plain_english_summary":"## Motor Accidents (Lifetime Care and Support) Act 2006 (NSW)\n\n**What does this law do?**\n\nThis NSW law sets up a scheme to provide **lifelong care and support** for people who suffer serious injuries in motor vehicle accidents in New South Wales. Instead of relying solely on a one-off court payout, seriously injured people can receive ongoing support — including medical treatment, rehabilitation, attendant care, and other services — for the rest of their lives.\n\n**Who does it affect?**\n\n- **People seriously injured in NSW motor accidents** (e.g. those with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, or other catastrophic injuries) — they may be eligible to receive lifetime care and support regardless of who was at fault in the accident.\n- **NSW motorists** — the scheme is funded through compulsory third party (CTP) insurance premiums (the 'green slip' you pay when you register your vehicle).\n- **Healthcare providers, rehabilitation specialists, and support workers** — they deliver services funded under the scheme.\n- **Insurers and the scheme administrator** (icare/the Lifetime Care and Support Authority) — they manage and fund claims.\n\n**Why does it matter?**\n\nBefore schemes like this existed, catastrophically injured people often had to fight lengthy and expensive court battles to get compensation — and even then, a lump sum could run out. This law ensures the most seriously injured accident victims get the care they need **for life**, without having to keep going back to court or worrying about money running out.\n\n**Key points to know:**\n- Fault doesn't always matter — even if you contributed to your own accident, you may still be eligible.\n- The scheme covers things like medical treatment, rehabilitation, home modifications, personal care, and community support.\n- A government body oversees eligibility and the services you receive.\n- The law has been amended many times since 2006, reflecting ongoing refinements to how the scheme operates.\n- Pending amendments may extend coverage to users of micromobility vehicles (like e-scooters) once those changes commence."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has expanded significantly beyond its original no-fault catastrophic injury scheme. Key expansions include: (1) the 2009 'buy-in' provision allowing pre-commencement injuries to join; (2) the 2017 extension to interstate accidents; (3) the 2014 'care and support arrangements' allowing the Authority to administer other jurisdictions' schemes; and (4) the 2012 restructuring of payment mechanisms and approved provider systems. The original Act focused narrowly on NSW motor accidents post-2006, but now encompasses retrospective coverage, interstate coordination, and cross-jurisdictional administrative functions."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 and Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 for definitions and funding mechanisms","Layered eligibility criteria combining statutory thresholds with detailed guidelines (LTCS Guidelines) that are incorporated by reference and can change over time","Complex temporal application rules with different commencement dates for different age groups (1 October 2006 vs 2007) and 'buy-in' provisions for pre-commencement injuries","Dual participation tracks (interim vs lifetime) with different duration rules based on age at injury","Sophisticated funding and actuarial provisions requiring independent actuarial reports and separate accounting for 'care and support arrangements' with other jurisdictions","Multiple dispute resolution pathways with different panels, time limits, and grounds for review depending on the type of dispute","Recovery provisions allowing the Authority to sue uninsured drivers or interstate insurers for the present value of future care costs","Extensive delegation and administrative provisions including the Authority's power to enter into arrangements to administer other states' schemes"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis Act creates a **no-fault insurance scheme** called the **Lifetime Care and Support Scheme** (the Scheme) for people who suffer **catastrophic injuries** in motor vehicle accidents in New South Wales. Instead of having to prove someone else was at fault to get compensation, eligible people receive lifetime funding for treatment and care regardless of who caused the accident.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Severely injured people**: Those with catastrophic injuries (like spinal cord damage, severe brain injury, or multiple amputations) from motor accidents occurring on or after 1 October 2006 (or 1 October 2007 for adults).\n- **The Lifetime Care and Support Authority**: A government body that runs the Scheme, assesses eligibility, and pays for treatment.\n- **Motor insurers**: They must contribute to the Scheme's funding through a levy on compulsory third-party insurance policies.\n- **Service providers**: Hospitals, doctors, rehabilitation specialists, and attendant care workers who treat participants.\n\n**Key features:**\n\n- **No-fault coverage**: You can join even if you caused the accident (section 4).\n- **\"Buy-in\" option**: People injured before the Scheme started, or injured interstate, can pay to join if they meet criteria (sections 7A, 7B).\n- **What's covered**: Medical treatment, dental care, rehabilitation, attendant care (help with daily tasks), equipment, home modifications, and vocational training (section 5A).\n- **Two participation types**:\n  - **Interim participants**: Children under 3 can stay until age 5; others stay for 2 years while injuries stabilize.\n  - **Lifetime participants**: Permanent coverage for catastrophic injuries.\n- **Dispute resolution**: Independent panels assess disputes about eligibility and treatment needs (Parts 3 and 4).\n- **Funding**: Comes from a levy on vehicle registration insurance (green slips), paid into the Lifetime Care and Support Authority Fund (Part 7).\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nBefore this Act, catastrophically injured people often faced enormous out-of-pocket costs for lifelong care, especially if they were at fault or couldn't identify the other driver. This Scheme guarantees funding for necessary care, reducing reliance on family and the public health system. It represents a shift from adversarial court battles to guaranteed support for the most seriously injured."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The text of the Act as presented includes inserted and repealed provisions indicating the Scheme’s scope and mechanics were amended after enactment. Notable scope changes reflected in the text include: the addition of an express payments Part for assessed treatment and care needs (Part 2A, including s 11A) inserted in 2012; introduction of approved‑provider rules (s 11C, inserted 2012) and an option to contribute to alternative cost‑effective expenditure (s 11AA, inserted 2014); provisions allowing pre‑commencement and interstate “buy in” (ss 7A, 7B, inserted 2009 and 2017 respectively); and updated Fund and contribution mechanics tying required Fund contributions to an independent actuary’s report (ss 48–49 as amended). These insertions and other amendments (noted in the section notes) materially adjust who can participate, how and by whom care is paid, the Authority’s payment options, and the funding/levy mechanism (see ss 11A, 11C, 11AA, 7A, 7B, 48, 49)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross‑linked parts: eligibility, assessment, dispute resolution, funding and administration (Parts 2, 2A, 3, 4, 7, 6).","Extensive delegated rule‑making power vested in LTCS Guidelines (ss 28, 58) creating many operational details outside the Act.","Actuarial funding process and annual required contribution determinations that rely on independent actuary reports (s 49) and interact with insurance levies (s 48(2)(a)).","Layered dispute resolution with assessors, Review Panels, Assessment Panels and the Personal Injury Commission, and differing cost rules across those routes (Parts 3–4; ss 17–21, 29).","Provider‑approval regime for key services and possible fee caps/regulatory rates affecting market access and payments (ss 11C, 32, 30–31).","Interoperation with several other statutes (Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999, Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017, Government Sector Finance Act, Legal Profession Uniform Law) via incorporated definitions and funding/levy mechanisms (s 5; ss 48, 49 notes).","Multiple amendments and transitional provisions recorded in footnotes and schedules (e.g. insertions of ss 11A, 11C, 11AA; ss 7A/7B), adding historical complexity to scope and application."],"plain_english_summary":"What the Act does mechanically\n\n- Establishes a statutory body called the Lifetime Care and Support Authority of New South Wales (the Authority) to run a lifetime care and support scheme (the Scheme) for people who suffer motor accident injuries that fall within the Act (ss 3, 33, 4).\n\n- Creates a dedicated Fund (the Lifetime Care and Support Authority Fund) to pay for the Scheme and sets out what sources feed the Fund and what payments may be made from it (s 48). The Fund receives, among other things, a proportion of third‑party policy contributions (s 48(2)(a)). The Authority must invest and account for Fund money subject to rules in the Act (s 48(4)).\n\n- Makes the Authority responsible for assessing participants’ treatment and care needs and for paying reasonable expenses for assessed needs while a person is a participant (ss 11A, 23). Assessed needs must be reasonable and necessary and must relate to the motor accident injury (s 11A(2)). The Authority may instead make fixed‑period payment agreements with participants (s 11A(4)).\n\n- Defines the categories of treatment and care that can be paid (e.g. medical, rehabilitation, attendant care, aids and appliances, education and vocational training) and allows regulations to exclude specified services (s 5A).\n\n- Limits payment in particular situations: gratuitous services and services provided by persons who are not approved providers are not payable unless the Authority elects to pay in special circumstances (s 11B). Certain services must be provided only by approved providers as identified by the LTCS Guidelines (s 11C).\n\n- Requires eligibility criteria and operational detail to be set out in LTCS Guidelines issued by the Authority, and makes those guidelines subject to publication and certain procedural controls (ss 7, 28, 58). Eligibility can be lifetime or interim participation; a person may be excluded if they have already been awarded damages for future economic loss for those needs (s 7(1), (2), (3)).\n\n- Provides application and acceptance processes: applications are made to the Authority by or on behalf of the injured person or by an insurer (s 8); the Authority must accept eligible applicants (s 9). The State Insurance Regulatory Authority may direct an insurer to apply for a person (s 8(3)).\n\n- Sets out dispute processes. Disputes about eligibility are decided by Assessment Panels and Review Panels convened by the Authority (Part 3 Div 1: ss 12–19). Disputes about whether an injury is a motor accident injury are referred to the Personal Injury Commission for final determination (s 20). Disputes about assessments of treatment and care needs are decided by appointed assessors and can be reviewed by Review Panels (Part 4: ss 22–29). Determinations are generally final and binding under the Act (ss 16, 26, 20(5)).\n\n- Regulates payment rates and fee caps: bulk billing arrangements and Minister‑determined public hospital rates apply in some cases (ss 30–31). Regulations may fix maximum fees for non‑hospital services and attendant care (s 32).\n\n- Requires the Authority to determine, before each relevant period, the amount to be contributed to the Fund. That determination must follow a report from an independent actuary and is intended to fully fund present and likely future liabilities (s 49). The required Fund contribution is collected as part of the motor accident insurance levy system (s 49 note; s 48(2)(a)).\n\n- Gives the Authority an express recovery right to recover the present value of its treatment and care liabilities from appropriate persons where an at‑fault vehicle lacked a third‑party policy (s 54). That recovery is reduced where the participant was contributorily negligent (s 54(2)).\n\n- Provides governance and administrative settings: a chief executive runs the Authority (s 39; Schedule 1), the Minister may give directions in the public interest except in limited areas (s 38), and the Authority may delegate many functions (s 41).\n\nStated purpose and how the Act approaches it\n\n- The Act implements a Scheme for lifetime care and support for people injured in motor accidents by creating an Authority to assess needs and pay for assessed treatment and care, and by creating a Fund to finance those payments (title; ss 3, 11A, 33, 48). The LTCS Guidelines are the instrument by which detailed eligibility and assessment procedures are specified (ss 7, 28, 58).\n\nTesting that purpose against practical mechanisms, incentives and trade‑offs (source references provided)\n\n- Who pays: The Authority pays for assessed needs while a person is a participant (s 11A). The Fund pays the Authority’s liabilities and is financed in primary part by a required proportion of third‑party policy contributions (s 48(2)(a); s 49 note). If an at‑fault vehicle lacked compulsory cover, the Authority may recover the present value of its liabilities from the appropriate owner/driver or other third party (s 54).\n\n- Who decides and where discretion sits: The Authority decides eligibility, assessments and payments (ss 7, 23, 11A). Major operational detail is delegated to LTCS Guidelines that the Authority issues (ss 28, 58). The Authority may also determine required Fund contributions using an independent actuary’s report (s 49). The Minister can give directions considered desirable in the public interest on many functions, subject to explicit limits (s 38). These are concrete levers of administrative discretion.\n\n- Compliance and administrative burden on participants and providers: Participants must supply information and may be required to authorise the Authority to obtain documents (s 8(5)), and must comply with reasonable requests including medical examinations for assessments (s 27). Providers of some services must be approved providers to be paid under the Scheme (s 11C); the Authority and the LTCS Guidelines set standards and approval procedures (s 11C(2)–(3), s 58).\n\n- Effects on private providers and insurers: The Act channels payments through the Authority and the Fund rather than direct private contracting in most cases (s 11A). For attendant care and other services specifically identified, only approved providers may be paid (s 11C), which affects which businesses can be paid by the Scheme. Regulations can set maximum fees for many services (s 32), and bulk billing arrangements or Minister‑set hospital rates may determine public hospital payments (ss 30–31). Insurers may be directed to lodge applications on behalf of claimants (s 8(3)) and may be involved in the Fund levy mechanism (s 48(2)(a) and s 49 note).\n\n- Cost control mechanisms and alternatives: The Authority may opt to contribute to alternative cost‑effective expenditure instead of directly paying expenses, capped at the amount it would otherwise have paid (s 11AA). The Authority may also refuse to pay for gratuitous services and for services provided by unapproved providers except in special circumstances (s 11B). Regulations and LTCS Guidelines are framed to enable standardisation of fees and assessment methods (ss 32, 28, 58).\n\n- Funding and actuarial risk: The Authority must set required Fund contributions before each relevant period to fully fund present and likely future liabilities and must base determinations on an independent actuary’s report (s 49(1), (2), (3)). That creates a direct operational link between actuarial estimates and levies collected for the Fund (s 49 note; s 48(2)(a)). The Act also provides for investment of surplus Fund monies subject to the Government Sector Finance Act rules or Minister/Treasurer approval (s 48(4)).\n\n- Procedural finality and dispute resolution: Determinations by Assessment Panels, Review Panels and the Commission (for motor accident status) are final and binding under the Act (ss 16, 26, 20(5)). Legal cost rules for these disputes are specified: the Authority pays certain assessment costs (s 17), is not liable for legal costs in some eligibility assessment processes (s 18), and must pay reasonable legal costs assessed by the Commission for disputes about whether an injury is a motor accident injury (s 21).\n\nConcrete trade‑offs and implementation risks implicit in the Act (mechanisms, not judgments)\n\n- Concentrated benefits and diffuse funders: Participants who meet eligibility get funded care (ss 7, 11A); the funding comes in part from a levy on third‑party motor insurance contributing to the Fund (s 48(2)(a), s 49 note). The Act therefore concentrates benefit on eligible participants while spreading financing through insurance contributions.\n\n- Administrative discretion versus standardisation: Much of operational detail is set out in LTCS Guidelines that the Authority issues and can amend; Guidelines may adopt external publications and are published (s 58). This gives the Authority scope to specify clinical and provider standards but also concentrates rule‑making power in the Authority (ss 28, 58).\n\n- Provider access and market effects: Requiring approval for attendant care and other services to be payable (s 11C) plus potential fee caps (s 32) changes the commercial conditions for providers wishing to supply services to Scheme participants.\n\n- Recovery and subrogation mechanics: The Authority’s right to recover the present value of liabilities from uninsured or interstate at‑fault persons (s 54) creates a collection mechanism but also requires valuation of present value liabilities and may be reduced by contributory negligence (s 54(2)).\n\n- Reliance on actuarial assumptions: The required Fund contribution is explicitly to be based on an independent actuary’s report estimating future costs in inflated dollars (s 49(2)–(3)). That ties funding adequacy to actuarial methodology and projections.\n\n- Administrative costs and roles: The Authority bears costs of panels and some travel/accommodation (s 17), runs approval and assessment regimes (ss 11C, 23), and may administer care and support arrangements on behalf of other schemes (s 43A), which allocates administrative workload to the Authority.\n\nWho pays, who decides, and how behaviour changes (short list)\n\n- Who pays: The Authority (Fund) pays assessed treatment and care expenses; Fund is financed largely by a required proportion of third‑party policy contributions and other receipts (s 48(2)(a), s 49 note). The Authority can recover amounts from uninsured or at‑fault third parties in specified circumstances (s 54).\n\n- Who decides: The Authority decides eligibility, assessments and payments, subject to LTCS Guidelines (ss 7, 23, 11A, 58). Panels and assessors decide disputes (Parts 3–4). The independent actuary informs Fund contribution decisions (s 49(3)). The Minister may give limited directions (s 38).\n\n- What changes behaviour: Insurers can be required to make applications for claimants (s 8(3)); providers must become approved to be paid for certain services (s 11C); participants must cooperate with assessments (s 27); fee and billing rules (ss 30–32) and the Authority’s option to offer alternative cost‑effective contributions (s 11AA) shape how services are purchased.\n\nImplementation and compliance considerations to note (mechanical points)\n\n- The Scheme uses delegated guidelines for detailed rules (ss 28, 58), which concentrates rule‑making with the Authority and requires publication.\n\n- The Authority must base annual funding decisions on an actuary’s report (s 49(3)), and the Fund’s investment rules are defined (s 48(4)).\n\n- The Act contains specific legal cost rules for different dispute processes (ss 17–18, 21, 29), and provides finality for panel/Commission determinations (ss 16, 20(5), 26).\n\nKey statutory citations: ss 3, 4, 5A, 7, 7A, 7B, 8, 9, 11A–11C, 11AA–11B, Part 3 (ss 12–21), Part 4 (ss 22–29), ss 30–32, ss 33, 38–39, 41, 43, 43A, 48–49, 54, 58."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/motor-accidents-lifetime-care-and-support-act-2006","history":"/api/acts/motor-accidents-lifetime-care-and-support-act-2006/history","analysis":"/api/acts/motor-accidents-lifetime-care-and-support-act-2006/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/motor-accidents-lifetime-care-and-support-act-2006/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/motor-accidents-lifetime-care-and-support-act-2006/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/motor-accidents-lifetime-care-and-support-act-2006/documents"}}