ICA executive Dallas Booth has been appointed the Chief Executive of HIH Claims Support (HCS), the company set up by the insurance industry to administer the Federal Government’s $640 million (and rising) claims relief package.

He will step aside from his position as GM Statutory Classes at ICA for the next 12 months.

He said his new duties include receiving and processing applications, administering finds to eligible claimants and providing claims information to the Government and the HIH provisional liquidator. The position will be reviewed in a year. He said, “the company looks forward to working with insurers.”

Will $640 million be enough? Mr Booth said the figure – up from the $500 million total announced only a few weeks ago in the Federal Budget – was set by the Government, which used information only it had access to. He will have “a better feel” for the scheme – and a likely total payout – as more information becomes available.

Mr Booth is ideally experienced to handle the task. Prior to joining ICA he ran the NSW Motor Accidents Authority. His work as a bureaucrat – and his government contacts – will prove useful as he guides HCS along what will potentially be a difficult course.

He’ll be watched carefully not only by politicians wanting to score points in an election year, but also by Federal Treasury bureaucrats anxious about the way the money is spent.

The first lot of payments will begin this week, and will be distributed via the Commonwealth.  Those targeted for immediate relief include people on salary continuance and disability support payments.  HSC will begin making payments to other claimants in a couple of weeks.