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The Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) is the regulatory authority responsible for the ongoing management of the Compulsory Third Party (CTP) scheme in Queensland.

History
Established under the Motor Accident Insurance Act 1994, MAIC commenced operations on 1 September 1994 as a statutory body. The Chief Executive of the Commission is the Insurance Commissioner who, in this capacity, is also the Nominal Defendant.

Compulsory Third Party (CTP) Insurance
Compulsory third party insurance is a mandatory insurance that provides compensation for an injured or killed person as a result of an incident with an insured motor vehicle. No motor vehicle can be registered in Australia without having valid a CTP policy. Each state and territory has legislative control on how the CTP policy scheme created and implemented. Factors such as fault, liability, injury, cost and compensation vary from each state and territory.

Queensland’s Compulsory Third Party Scheme
Queensland’s Compulsory Third Party (CTP) scheme is a common law, fault-based scheme currently underwritten by four licensed private insurers who accept applications for insurance and manage claims on behalf of their policyholders. The scheme has operated since 1936, overseeing the provision of insurance policies covering unlimited liability for personal injuries to motor vehicle owners, drivers, passengers and other persons injured in a motor vehicle crash to which the Motor Accident Insurance Act 1994 (the MAI Act) applies.

Responsibilities
MAIC is responsible for:
 * Ensuring people injured in road accidents receive fair compensation;


 * Compensating people who are injured as a result of the negligent driving of an unidentified or uninsured motor vehicle through the Nominal Defendant;


 * Ensuring Queensland motorists receive affordable premiums;


 * The regulation of insurers’ activity and compliance; and


 * Meeting any claim costs of an insolvent insurer.

Functions
MAIC’s key functions involve:
 * The licensing and supervision of CTP insurers;


 * Monitoring the operation of the scheme;


 * Fixing the range within which each insurer’s premium must fall and recommending to Government the levies payable;


 * Promoting research, education and the infrastructure to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes and facilitate rehabilitation of injured people;


 * Developing and maintaining a claims register and statistical database for the purpose of providing management information; and administering the Nominal Defendant Fund.

Road safety initiatives
MAIC has a legislative function defined under the Motor Accident Insurance Act 1994 to promote measures directed at eliminating or reducing the causes of motor vehicle crashes and, where this is not possible, to ensure those injured are provided with access to appropriate care and rehabilitation to facilitate their recovery. To achieve these objectives MAIC supports ongoing road safety research aimed at reducing the frequency, severity and impact of road trauma through a variety of means including targeted one off initiatives and recurrent funding to Universities to support a program of research in road safety.

A central component of MAIC’s road safety investment, is its ongoing support of the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety Queensland (CARRS-Q) located at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). CARRS-Q, through its focus on research, teaching and community education, has established an international reputation as a credible and respected entity in road safety.

In addition to its ongoing investment in CARRS-Q, MAIC also provides funding for targeted one- off initiatives focused on key claims cost drivers and trends. Recent projects include:
 * Evaluation of 'Braking the Cycle' learner mentor driving program established by Police Citizens Youth Welfare Association (PCYC)


 * Development of best practice guidelines for Learner Mentor Driving Programs


 * The 'Be a Mate' campaign, which is aimed to increase motorists’ knowledge and to positively influence their future driving, by applying the notion of mateship to their behaviours on the road. The focus of the campaign is to highlight the most common crash type that results in injury, rear-end crashes.

CTP Premium Calculator
A CTP Premium Calculator has been developed by the MAIC to provide Queensland motor vehicle owners with easier access to CTP premium information. Both the estimated price of CTP premiums and comparison between the licensed CTP insurers can be calculated. This service is provided through the MAIC website.

Claim farming
MAIC provides an online service to report incidents of 'claim farming'. Claim farming involves members of the public receiving cold calls or social media prompts, seeking personal details regarding possible involvement in car accidents. These claim farmers encourage people to make a CTP claim. Additionally, MAIC has also focused on rising raising awareness for consumers and businesses alike around this practice.

Helpline
A helpline is set-up to assist with general queries on the CTP scheme and claims process. .

Nominal Defendant
The Nominal Defendant is a statutory body established under the Motor Accident Insurance Act 1994 (MAI Act) for the purpose of compensating people who are injured as a result of the negligent driving of unidentified and/or uninsured (no Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance) motor vehicles.