The real cost of car theft and staged accidents

I was pleased to see that Queensland has rejoined the National Vehicle Theft Reduction Body. This is funded half by State Governments and half by the Insurance Industry.

What blind Freddy can see, is that those named in gangland shootings also feature disproportionately in staged accidents, stand over tactics by dodgy panel beaters and car and mobile equipment theft.

We even saw one gang insert one of their own into a major insurers claims department to aid and abet their fraudulent activities.

I believe that many of these people started off ripping off insurers and then used the cash to fund drugs and establish themselves in organised crime. That is why we have seen a massive increase, 400+% in some states in the number of vehicle thefts.

Of course, all of us pay more for our motor insurance, my estimate is over 10% to cover the cost of the fraudulent claims.

If we are serious about reducing organised crime, the shootings etc, and even links to terrorist organisations, we need to get serious about vehicle theft and the fraudulent activities using motor insurance as a cash cow.

This may be a more productive approach than funding dishonest barristers.

With all the privacy laws in place that to me must protect the guilty, the insurance industry cannot fight this serious issue alone. Like so many important issues facing the community like flood mitigation, fraudulent claims need a national task force and a concerted effort. This in turn will have a positive flow on effect in other serious crimes.

Why it has taken the Queensland Government so long despite the urging of the RACV and other bodies, is beyond me, but just rejoining is not enough.

We need a well funded and staffed task force to fix the ever increasing problem. Come on governments, let’s get serious!