• QLS
• About QLS
• News & media
• Media releases
• Claim farming must be stamped out: QLS

Claim farming must be stamped out: QLS

Queensland Law Society president Ken Taylor today (27 JUNE) said that claim farming was a stain on the legal profession and must be stamped out in the near future.
 
Mr Taylor said that QLS had been working with stakeholders such as the Queensland Government and Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) on legislative reform to make claim farming illegal in the State.
 
“Claim farming is not something that we endorse,” Mr Taylor said.
 
“Claim farming of any kind – be it directly or through a consultancy model – is unethical for solicitors, and in some cases, prohibited by legislation.”
 
Mr Taylor explained that the Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002 prohibited conduct relating to claim farming such as restrictions on the advertising of personal injury services and touting.
 
“We have been consulting with stakeholders on the actions that can be taken to rid Queensland of claim farming, and we are getting even closer to a resolution,” he said.
 
“We have made our submissions to MAIC in the 2016 review, met with MAIC and the Government, and are now working with them to progress proposed reforms.
 
“We continue to alert our members to the dangers and consequences of claim farming and we urge the public to always speak to a solicitor directly when making a claim.
 
“It is paramount that the public is protected from these practices, and so we continue to encourage the public to forgo dealing with non-legal firms who may be farming their details, and go direct to a qualified Queensland solicitor.”

ENDS

For more information, please contact the QLS public affairs team on (07) 3842 5849 or media@qls.com.au.