The NSW government will overhaul the Compulsory Third Party Motor Accident Insurance Scheme to make it fairer and more affordable. Under the government’s changes the new scheme will provide defined benefits to all people injured in accidents, removing the need for claimants to prove to an insurer who was at fault.

The current scheme has not altered for 16 years, with NSW motorists paying the highest premiums in the country. And it does not represent value for money, with only 45 cents in every dollar paid in Green Slip premiums going to injured people.

The rest goes to insurer profits, legal fees, medical expenses and other schemes costs.

Without reform, premiums could rise 10 to 20 per cent. More information is available at www.greenslipreforms.nsw.gov.au

Diabetes Awareness Week July 10-16

Diabetes is the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia. Over 400,000 people in NSW have diabetes and 280 Australians develop diabetes daily. Those numbers are increasing at a faster rate than heart disease and cancer.

National Diabetes Week from July 10-16 hopes to raise awareness about diabetes and its effect. You don’t necessarily have to be overweight or elderly to have diabetes, but sufferers have to spend the rest of their life managing it.

Prevention is the best cure, and the NSW government has some initiatives to encourage people to get healthy. The Get Healthy at Work free, state-wide service, is for all businesses and targets key risk factors - weight, physical activity, diet and smoking. The Get Healthy Service is a free phone coaching service supporting people to make lifestyle improvements. Go4Fun is an obesity treatment program for children. The Make Healthy Normal social marketing campaign was launched in June 2015 to motivate people to reassess their lifestyle choices. For more information on diabetes visit DiabetesAustralia.com.au