The Queensland Government is “considering options” for implementing the National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS), and has committed to providing “reasonable and necessary care and support for people catastrophically injured in road traffic crashes, irrespective of fault”.

Treasurer Curtis Pitt has referred the state’s participation in the scheme to a parliamentary committee as a matter of urgency.

“Unless we act now, Queensland will be the only state or territory in Australia without a lifetime care and support scheme in place by July 1 next year,” he said.

“That’s unacceptable when you consider that each week about three Queenslanders sustain life-changing, catastrophic injuries as a result of a road traffic crash.”

Mr Pitt says about half of all Queenslanders catastrophically injured in traffic crashes are not eligible to claim against compulsory third party (CTP) insurance for the care and support they need.

The state’s current CTP scheme does not provide cover for injured people who are at fault, or cases where there is no negligent party.

“It’s imperative that we move to address this issue so those with catastrophic injuries arising from road traffic crashes get the lifetime care and support they need,” Mr Pitt said.

The previous LNP government led by Campbell Newman signed the national NIIS agreement in 2013 but did not implement the scheme. Labor took power in January this year.

The parliamentary committee is charged with recommending the most suitable model for implementing the NIIS from next July 1. It will consider a no-fault lifetime care scheme and a hybrid common law and no-fault care and support arrangement.

The committee will seek public submissions and consult with peak and representative bodies from the insurance sector, the legal profession and health and disability sectors.

It will report to the government by January 29.

Suncorp Commercial Insurance EGM Statutory Portfolio Chris McHugh has welcomed the Government’s announcement.

“This reform will mean that about 70 Queenslanders every year will get the lifetime care they need following a catastrophic motor accident, rather than having their lives devastated because they have no cover for their injuries, as is the case today, ” he said.

“The Government deserves credit for closing this significant gap in Queensland’s motor accident insurance cover.”