<![CDATA[<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<br><a href = "thecouncil.html">About Professions Australia</a><br>
<a href = "branches.html">Branches & NSWCOP</a><br>
<a href = "policymaterial.html">Policy Material</a><br>
<a href = "knowledgenetwork.html">Knowledge Network</a><br>
<a href = "alertsandnews.html">Alerts and Newsletters</a><br>
<a href = "membership.html">Membership Information</a><br>
<a href = "office.html">Office & Contacts</a><br>
<a href = "sitesearch.html">Search</a><br>
<a href = "Memberlogin.html">Member Login</a><br>
<a href = "memberlogout.html">Logout</a><br>
<a href = "Homepage.html">Home</a><br>
<a href = "Constitution.html">Constitution</a><br>
<a href = "YoungProf.html">Young Professionals</a><br>
<a href = "ethicsresource.html">Ethics Resource Centre</a><br>
<a href = "history.html">History</a><br>
<a href = "visionrole.html">Vision and Role</a><br>
<a href = "Board.html">Board</a><br>
<a href = "committees.html">Committees</a><br>
<a href = "mediaspeeches.html">Media, Speeches</a><br>
<a href = "award.html">Professional of the Year Award</a><br>
<a href = "archives.html">Archives</a><br>
<a href = "NSWCOP.html">NSWCOP</a><br>
<a href = "victoria.html">Victoria</a><br>
<a href = "Queensland.html">Queensland</a><br>
<a href = "wa.html">Western Australia</a><br>
<a href = "sa.html">South Australia</a><br>
<a href = "tasmania.html">Tasmania</a><br>
<a href = "act.html">ACT</a><br>
<a href = "competitionpolicy.html">Competition Policy</a><br>
<a href = "insurance.html">Insurance</a><br>
<a href = "highereducation.html">Higher Education</a><br>
<a href = "other.html">Other</a><br>
<a href = "knetsample.html">Knowledge Base Sample</a><br>
<a href = "kbase.html">Knowledge Base</a><br>
<a href = "kpeople.html">Knowledge People</a><br>
<a href = "ktalk.html">Knowledge Talk</a><br>
<a href = "submitkbase.html">Submit to Knowledge Base</a><br>
<a href = "submitkpeople.html">Submit to Knowledge People</a><br>
<a href = "alertssample.html">Alerts and News Sample</a><br>
<a href = "alerts.html">Alerts</a><br>
<a href = "newsletters.html">Newsletters</a><br>
<a href = "subscription.html">Alerts and News Subscription</a><br>
<a href = "criteria.html">Criteria</a><br>
<a href = "Rates.html">Membership Rates</a><br>
<a href = "member.html">Member Associations</a><br>
<a href = "KBManual.html">Knowledge Base Manual</a><br>
<a href = "defineprofession.html">Definition of a Profession</a><br>
<a href = "KBWP.html">Knowledge Base White Papers</a><br>
<a href = "ValueStatement.html">Value Statement</a><br>
<a href = "Apply.html">Apply to join</a><br>
<a href = "Constitutioncontinue.html">Constitution continued</a><br>
<a href = "ParticReportsNov2003.html">Participant reports Roundtable Nov 2003</a><br>
<a href = "latestnewsletter.html">Latest Newsletter</a><br>
<a href = "bankruptcy.html">Bankruptcy legislation</a><br>
<a href = "whatsnew.html">What's New</a><br>
<a href = "ethicsplan.html">Ethics Action Plan</a><br>
<a href = "definitionprofession.html">Definition of a Profession</a><br>
<a href = "ethicscodes.html">Codes of Ethics</a><br>
<a href = "ethicseducation.html">Ethics Education</a><br>
<a href = "ethicsforum.html">Ethics Forum</a><br>
<a href = "relatedsites.html">Related Sites</a><br>
<a href = "ethicsreading.html">Reading</a><br>
<a href = "ethicscasestudies.html">Ethics Case Studies</a><br>
<a href = "ethicsresearch.html">Ethics Research</a><br>
<a href = "CPSS.html">Competition Policy Submission (1998)</a><br>
<a href = "SERC.html">Submission to Economics References Committee (May 2002)</a><br>
<a href = "SSWSTTTR.html">Structured Settlements - Why support them through tax reform (May 2001)</a><br>
<a href = "STTRLN.html">Submission to the Review of the Law of Negligence (August 2002)</a><br>
<a href = "MRPWBI.html">Media Release: Professions want broader indemnity agenda (June 2002)</a><br>
<a href = "PORM.html">Policy on Risk Management (November 1997)</a><br>
<a href = "PR2001.html">AGM 2001 Presidents Address</a><br>
<a href = "AFGFA.html">Professional Liability - A fair go for all - 1998</a><br>
<a href = "TPPIAC.html">The Professions, Public Interest and Competition Policy (2000)</a><br>
<a href = "APSUT.html">Australia's Professional Services under threat 1997</a><br>
<a href = "NCPP.html">National Competition policy & the professions 1997</a><br>
<a href = "DWRME.html">Dealing with risk. Managing expectations 1996</a><br>
<a href = "GM2002.html">GM 2002 Presidents Speech</a><br>
<a href = "AGM2002.html">AGM 2002 Presidents Address</a><br>
<a href = "MediaRelease25Nov.html">Ipp Media Release</a><br>
<a href = "MediaReleaseNov02.html">Professional Indemnity Insurance Crisis - media Release</a><br>
<a href = "AGM1999.html">AGM President Address 1999</a><br>
<a href = "SCAGMINCO.html">Submission to SCAG-MINCO 9 Dec 2002</a><br>
<a href = "JCCV.html">John Castles CV</a><br>
<a href = "BGCV.html">Barry Grear CV</a><br>
<a href = "DTCV.html">David Thomson CV</a><br>
<a href = "VICletter.html">Victorian market failure in Professional Indemnity insurance</a><br>
<a href = "CVSTP.html">Coonan's view a shock to professionals</a><br>
<a href = "PBULC.html">Peak body urges liability cap</a><br>
<a href = "LDRA.html">Liability decision rouses anger</a><br>
<a href = "PLNHG.html">Proportionate liability is not Holy Grail</a><br>
<a href = "GPAS.html">Government position appears to be shifting</a><br>
<a href = "pumta.html">Professions urge ministers to act now</a><br>
<a href = "tpauc.html">TPA 'undermines capping'</a><br>
<a href = "mtstmt.html">Market 'too small and too much trouble'</a><br>
<a href = "pimfnps.html">PI market failure needs a package solution</a><br>
<a href = "cfncoll.html">Call for national cap on lawyers' liability</a><br>
<a href = "POPSR.html">Policy on Professional Self-Regulation (1990)</a><br>
<a href = "RDEWL.html">Role and Duties of an Expert Witness in Litigation (1998)</a><br>
<a href = "107.html">Alert No 107 (29 May 03)</a><br>
<a href = "1071.html">Alert No 107 Attach 0ne</a><br>
<a href = "1072.html">Alert No 107 Attach Two</a><br>
<a href = "1073.html">Alert No 107 Attach three- Implementation paper</a><br>
<a href = "1074.html">Alert No 107 Attach Four</a><br>
<a href = "Treasurer.html">Paul Meiklejohn</a><br>
<a href = "Boardmemberone.html">Monica Persson</a><br>
<a href = "nswcopcontacts.html">Contacts</a><br>
<a href = "nswcopobjectives.html">Objectives</a><br>
<a href = "nswcoppsl.html">Professional Standards Legislation</a><br>
<a href = "nswcopevents.html">Events</a><br>
<a href = "nswcopnletters.html">NSWCOP Newsletters</a><br>
<a href = "SeptHigherEd.html">Nelson reforms miss the main point, say professions</a><br>
<a href = "PSCJune03Seminar.html">NSW PSC June Seminar</a><br>
<a href = "VicCPAJuly03Seminar.html">Vic CPA professional indemnity seminar, 28 July 2003</a><br>
<a href = "BrisbaneHandPI.html">John Hand Brisbane PI Paper, 30 July 2003</a><br>
<a href = "ICAABrisbanePaper.html">Brisbane ICAA PI paper</a><br>
<a href = "PolCampaignsArticle.html">Professions Australia learns lessons on political campaigns</a><br>
<a href = "AnaGovan.html">Ana Govan (information technology)</a><br>
<a href = "BrigetteHall.html">Brigette Hall (minerals)</a><br>
<a href = "NikkiBrennan.html">Nikki Brennan (architecture)</a><br>
<a href = "NinaQuinn.html">Nina Quinn (audiology)</a><br>
<a href = "LukeFraser.html">Luke Fraser (construction)</a><br>
<a href = "PhilippaThomson.html">Philippa Thomson (dentistry)</a><br>
<a href = "KateWest.html">Kate West (engineering)</a><br>
<a href = "profcomppublic.html">Professionalism, competition policy and the public interest: Issues paper (2003)</a><br>
<a href = "SenateTPAbriefing.html">Senate TPA inquiry briefing notes March 2004</a><br>
<a href = "ICActReview.html">Insurance Contracts Act review key documents</a><br>
<a href = "ACCCinsurancereviews.html">ACCC insurance market pricing reviews</a><br>
<a href = "SenatorCoonanwebsite.html">Senator Coonan website</a><br>
<a href = "InsuranceCouncil.html">Insurance Council website</a><br>
<a href = "CoonanJuly2003letter.html">Letter to Coonan on timing July 2003</a><br>
<a href = "MinletterMar2004.html">Letter to Ministers on timing March 2004</a><br>
<a href = "MinContOutMar2004ltr.html">Letter to Ministers against contracting out (March 2004)</a><br>
<a href = "12March2004update.html">Update 12 March 2004</a><br>
<a href = "TPAPSLinquiry.html">Senate Committee inquiry into Trade Practices Act amendments</a><br>
<a href = "AGM2003Pres.html">AGM 2003 Presidents Address</a><br>
<a href = "OMNov2003Pres.html">Ordinary Meeting November 2003 Presidents Address</a><br>
<a href = "HobartMediaFeb2004.html">Comments on Hobart Insurance Ministers meeting Feb 2004</a><br>
<a href = "Feb2004PISurveys.html">February 2004 professional indemnity surveys</a><br>
<a href = "HigherEdltrs25Sep03.html">Higher Education letters 25 Sep 2003</a><br>
<a href = "HigherEdmed8Oct2003.html">Higher Ed media 8 October 2003</a><br>
<a href = "HigherEdltr6Nov03.html">Higher Ed letter 6 Nov 2003</a><br>
<a href = "HigherEdltrs26Nov03.html">Higher Ed letters 26 Nov 2003</a><br>
<a href = "HigherEdltr30Sep03.html">Higher Ed letter 30 September 03</a><br>
<a href = "HigherEdAFR13Oct03.html">Higher Education AFR Op Ed piece 13 October 03</a><br>
<a href = "pasub.html">National Competition Policy Review - PA Submission (2004)</a><br>
<a href = "profoftheyear.html">Announcement of 2004 Professional of the Year</a><br>
<a href = "membercodes.html">Examples of Member Codes</a><br>
<a href = "codeprinciples.html">Code Principles</a><br>
<br><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 24pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
<P></B></P></SPAN>
<P></B><A href="http://afr.com/"><IMG height=24 src="http://afr.com/images/afrlogo.gif" width=217 border=0></A></P><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 24pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
<P align=center></P></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
<P>PI market failure needs a package solution</P></B></SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
<P>The professions welcome your editorial encouragement of the states (``Indemnity concerns must be ironed out", AFR, March 25) moving quickly to address market failure in professional indemnity insurance by introducing proportionate liability. </P>
<P>The need for state uniformity of proportionate liability rules is imperative. PL is an important and worthwhile reform but only the first segment of the urgently needed reform package to protect the rights of consumers of professional services. </P>
<P>Only a nationally consistent reform package comprising professional standards legislation, appropriate amendment of the Trade Practices Act and proportionate liability will effectively restore professional indemnity market failure. No effective alternative has been proposed. </P>
<P>As professional indemnity insurance becomes almost daily more unaffordable and unobtainable for professionals, consumers' access to services is diminishing and their risk of exposure to uninsured and uncredited service providers is increasing. </P>
<P>Governments are recognising this danger. As with the insurance crisis in public liability and medical indemnity, balanced and nationally consistent legislative reform by all Australian governments provides the best solution. </P>
<P>Professional standards legislation already in place in NSW and WA ensures professionals are adequately insured, so that successful plaintiffs are compensated for economic loss. </P>
<P>In exchange for a safety ceiling or cap, professionals are required to comply with transparent and publicly reported risk management programs, discipline and complaints procedures which impose greater accountability of professionals to their clients. </P>
<P>The safety ceiling or caps on liability payouts under professional standards legislation are set at levels which cover all consumer claims and the great majority of corporate claims. By greatly reducing volatility of professional risk in today's litigious environment, professional standards legislation plus Trade Practices Act amendment will encourage insurers back into this market on reasonable terms. </P>
<P>Following their reform achievements in public liability and medical indemnity, Assistant Treasurer Helen Coonan and her state colleagues meeting on April 4 in Perth have a once-in-a-decade opportunity to complete the trifecta of liability reform by agreeing to national professional standards reform. </P>
<P>John Castles, </P>
<P>President, Professions Australia, </P>
<P>Canberra, ACT.</P></SPAN>
</body>]]>