The Act imposes a web of duties and confers corresponding rights, balanced across stakeholders to ensure scheme integrity, victim support, and cost control. Citations reference specific sections for precision.
Duties of motorists/owners: Owners must not drive or permit driving of uninsured vehicles (s.20(1)-(2), 80 penalty units), with a defence of reasonable belief in insurance (s.20(3)). Applications for registration/renewal require insurer selection and premium payment (s.21(1),(4)), with tolerances for minor underpayments (s.21(5)-(8)). Vehicles must be correctly classified (s.25(1), 30 penalty units; defence of reasonable belief in s.25(2)). Insured persons must not admit liability, settle, or pay without insurer consent (s.43(1)), though providing police information is allowed (s.43(3)). Claimants must give police notice (s.34), cooperate with insurers (s.45(1): reports, medical history within 1 month), inform of material changes (s.45(3)), and attend compulsory conferences (s.51B(10)).
Rights of injured persons/claimants: Claimants have rights to compensation from the insurer (not at-fault driver, except exemplary damages in s.55(1)), without proving fault in many cases (no-fault elements in scheme design). Notice triggers insurer duties (s.37(1): statement, authorisation for records, law practice certificate if applicable). Insurers must respond within 14 days (s.39(1): compliance statement, rehabilitation offer), attempt resolution (s.41), and fund reasonable rehabilitation post-admission (s.42(1), s.51(3)), subject to National Injury Act exclusions for participants (s.42(3), s.51(3A)). Rights to mediation (s.51(5)), court determination of rehabilitation (s.51(5)(b),(7)(b)), and costs protection via mandatory final offers (s.51C, s.55F). For small awards, costs are capped (s.55F(2)-(3)). Rehabilitation includes medical, psychological, physical, social, educational, and vocational measures (s.4 definition). Claimants may apply for stays (s.87SE) or appeal internal reviews (s.87SF).
Duties of licensed insurers: Insurers must issue policies on tender of premium (s.22(2), 300 penalty units), cannot decline or repudiate (s.22(1)), and are bound by policies by force of the Act (s.22(1)). They must respond to notices (s.39), estimate damages fairly (s.41(2)), make offers with supporting material (s.41(4)), respond to offers within 3 months (s.41(5)), and fund rehabilitation (s.42(1), s.51(3)). Cooperation with claimants (s.47: provide reports within 1 month) and other insurers (s.38(5)) is mandatory. Claims management must follow standards (s.10(1)(d)), with monitoring by commission (s.10(1)(e)). No inducements for business (s.96(1),(5), 300 penalty units) or premium discounting (s.97(1)-(3), 300 penalty units). Insurers must execute the industry deed (s.65), provide returns/information (s.88), and maintain records (s.70). For multiple insurers, claim manager duties apply (s.38(4)).
Rights of licensed insurers: Insurers have rights to information from claimants (s.45(1)(b)), medical examinations (s.46A), and recourse for fraud (s.59), unauthorised use (s.58(1)), intentional injury (s.58(2)), drunk/drugged driving (s.58(3)), and defects (s.58(4)). They may admit liability without binding other claims (s.41(6)) and recover overpaid rehabilitation if fraud induced admission (s.42(5)). Licence conditions protect against unfair advantage (s.64(5)). In multi-vehicle accidents, contribution rights exist (s.52A, applying Law Reform Act 1995 pt.3 div.2).
Duties of the commission: The commission must supervise insurers, issue/suspend licences (s.10(1)(a)), regulate the scheme, set prudential/claims standards (s.10(1)(c)-(d), published per s.10(3)), fix premium ranges (s.10(1)(g)), recommend levies (s.10(1)(h), s.14), monitor rehabilitation (s.10(1)(i)), fund research/safety (s.10(1)(j)-(l)), maintain a call centre (s.10(1)(m)), run awareness campaigns (s.10(1)(n)), combat fraud (s.10(1)(q)), review the industry deed/scheme (s.10(1)(r)-(s)), and collect statistics (s.10(1)(t)). It must report annually (s.19), including scheme efficiency and costs (s.19(2)). For National Injury Act functions, see s.10(1A). Enforcement duties in Part 5A (appoint authorised persons per s.87A, investigations per Part 5B).
Rights of the commission: Broad investigative powers (Part 5A: entry, seizure, examination; Part 5B: special investigations of insurers/law practices). It may require information (s.88(1)), intervene for systems (s.88A), and recover investigation costs (s.87ZO). Licence conditions can be imposed/amended (s.64(3)). It appoints mediators (s.51(5)(a),(7)(a)) and arbitrators (s.10(1)(f)).
Duties of transport administration: Collect premiums (s.21), disburse to insurers/commission/agency (s.27), provide information (s.90), notify of underpayments (s.23(6)). It must not register uninsured vehicles (implicit in s.23).
Rights and duties in claims process: Insurers must attempt resolution (s.41(1)-(2)), with admissions non-binding if fraud (s.41(6)). Claimants must cooperate (s.45), attend conferences (s.51B(10)). Legal practices have certification duties (ss.36A-36E, 39A, 41A), with breaches leading to costs bars (s.77) and refunds (s.37AA). Fraud triggers offences (ss.87T-87U) and recourse (s.59).
These duties/rights are enforced via penalties (up to 400 penalty units), licence withdrawal, costs orders (s.50, s.55F), and compensation (s.87RW). Interactions with Legal Profession Act 2007 (ss.36B, 79) and National Injury Act ensure holistic coverage.