David Norris (Independent)

I congratulate my colleague, Senator Ross, on putting down this important motion. In terms of young drivers – regrettably I can no longer qualify as one myself – there is a great problem because of the enormous costs involved. They are really quite bizarre. I know that the insurance industry is based on the calculation of actuarial risk, and if certain categories of drivers have a demonstrably greater accident rate, it is perfectly legitimate to penalise them. The insurance companies have signally failed to demonstrate in the case of young drivers that this is the situation.