Fig trees well and truly on the chopping block

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Workers from Newcastle Council will be firing up their chainsaws today in Cooks Hill.

Fig trees in Swan Street, Cooks Hill, are on the chopping block with 11 of the 24 getting the chop this week.

Interim General Manager Jeremy Bath said the council's hand has been forced on the issue with council's insurer threatening to revoke its public liability insurance across the city if the trees weren't removed.

"Consequently council's insurer has come to the conclusion that it is no longer willing to offer council public liability insurance unless we do something about the figs. Now we've looked at what we can do and unfortunately all that can be done in terms of making the street safe is to remove them so that's what council will be doing over the next three days," said Jeremy Bath.

Council did discuss other options including simply trimming back the roots of the enormous trees, but after consulting with residents the safest option was to have the entirety of the trees removed.

The trees will eventually be replaced with less invasive species.

"I'm very happy to say that the residents have made the decision to continue with trees on their street and in time there will be a very beautiful tree canopy once again in Swan Street Cooks Hill, just one that will be far more appropriate size and design so the roots aren't causing enormous damage to the properties as well as failing with increasing regularity," said Jeremy Bath.

Image saveourfigs.wordpress.com

Private health insurance simply unaffordable: iSelect

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Private health insurance gives people the ability to select the best possible care, but Hunter residents are increasingly backing out as premiums continue to increase.

A recent survey of NSW found that around 57 per cent don't have private health insurance because they simply cannot afford it. Of those who are privately insured, around 24 per cent say they were likely to downgrade or completely drop their insurance cover in the next 12 months.

Laura Crowden from insurance watchdog iSelect says there's a significant trend causing the huge drop in those covered by private health insurance.

"The participation rates in private health insurance have been declining for many years. At the same time we've seen premiums continue to increase. So since 2010 on average premiums have risen 50 per cent which really means a lot of people are simply unable to afford those sorts of costs."

With many residents considering dropping out, the insurance watchdog is urging everyone to check their cover and make sure you are insured for what you actually need, otherwise you run the risk of additional tax or extra costs if you do choose to opt out.

Extra costs include the government's Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading and the Medicare Levy Surcharge for higher income earners (an additional tax on top of the standard 2% Medicare Levy for those who earn over $90,000 (single) or $180,000 (couple/family) and don't have private hospital cover).

"It's really important people understand the implications of either dropping or downgrading or not having private health insurance. It's not for everyone, but certainly the benefits of private health insurance are greater choice and peace of mind that you're able to choose your own doctor, choose your own hospital and be treated much more quickly for elective surgery," said Laura Crowden.

iSelect say it's really important for those struggling with the costs to have a look at their options ahead of June 30 to see if they can get a better deal.

"So first thing we'd encourage Newcastle residents to not set and forget. Don't just take out a private health insurance policy and then just keep it ticking along without regularly reviewing it because as your health needs change as you're either getting older or starting a family it's really important that your private health policy changes with you."

New Code of Conduct for Hunter licensed drivers and their insurers

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It can often be a headache to liaise not only with car insurers, but car repairers after an accident, but a new mandatory Code of Conduct could be making it a whole lot easier for Hunter motorists.

The NSW Government is making the move to lift industry standards by championing the mandatory code, which will better protect the rights of licensed drivers.

The main amendments to the code include:
- Mandated compliance in NSW
- Minimum training and experience requirements for estimators and assessors
- The NSW Government will appoint neutral parties to conduct mediation and determinations of disputes
- Mandatory reporting of any unsafe repairs.

"This just restores a bit of power and a little bit of security back to vehicle owners that they know if there is a dispute, there will be someone who will be bale to mediate - someone who isn't beholden to the smash repairer or the insurance industry," said Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald.

The Parliamentary Secretary said the disputes between dodgy repairers and insurers "has caused a lot of anxiety among consumers" and this new code will improve the safety and transparency of insurance assessments and furthermore, repair work.

The code will also work to avoid potentially costly legal actions against large insurers.

Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, Matt Kean, says "this is another example of this Government reducing red tape and will help consumers avoid getting caught in the middle of disputes between insurers and vehicle repairers".

The new code will come into effect from 1st May, and for more information go to: www.industry.nsw.gov.au

Motorists won't be reaping any rewards from Green Slip reforms

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Motorists across the state won't be reaping any rewards when the NSW Government put forward their proposed reforms to Green Slips.

The reforms would see Hunter motorists Green Slip bills cut by $100, but the system of lump sum payments would be changed to weekly payments and those claiming serious injuries won't be able to claim for longer than two years for a loss of earnings, are just some of the changes which could come into fruition.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and her government claim the changes would benefit taxpayers in a reduction of costs.

Not everyone agrees, least of all Swansea MP Yasmin Catley.

This isn't the first time the government have tried to make changes to the system, and if their bill is successfully passed in parliament this time it would come into play in December.

"They know that what they're trying to do is bad for motorists and that's why this is their third attempt. So we'll see what they have to deliver today but I'll tell you what Labor will be sticking up for motorists and making sure that the fundamentals of the CTP which are looking after people who have been injured through no fault of their own and that they are compensated and looked after into the future," said Yasmin Catley.

The reforms would also aim to enhance the power of the State Insurance Regulatory Authority to tackle fraud and regulate insurer profits which have averaged 20 per cent since 1999.

This is something Yasmin Catley does agree with saying "most importantly the insurance companies super profit has to be stopped. This government has been reluctant to do that. They're too soft on insurance companies and that's because people are lobbying for insurance companies and it's important that at the end of the day it isn't insurance companies that get the best end of this deal, it has to be the motorists of NSW".

Former Newcastle Woman on $233M Fraud Charges

BY TANYA DU PREEZ

A former Newcastle woman is facing over 35 years in a United States jail after she was accused of being involved in an insurance fraud of up to $233 million, one of the largest in Californian history.

Ms Kirsten Wallace, who was chief financial officer of the Community Recovery company which ran about 20 rehabilitation centres, is alleged to have been involved in "an elaborate conspiracy" to defraud patients and insurers.

Prosecutors alleged she stole patient identities, bought health insurance policies for patients without their knowledge and continued to bill insurance companies for treatment after the services were completed.

Ms Wallace lived in Newcastle for seven years, living in Carrington and Mayfield before moving to the US about 10 years ago with her young daughter.

Kirsten Wallace allegedly committed a $233 million insurance fraud (Source: New York Daily News)