ACC Chief Executive – can we get past the insurance model?

ACC Chief Executive – can we get past the insurance model?

The ACC Futures Coalition is concerned that the appointment of Scott Pickering as the new chief executive of ACC demonstrates that the government is committed to an insurance model for the scheme.

“We wonder whether a background in insurance brokering is the best qualification for the leadership of one the most important social agencies in New Zealand,” said Hazel Armstrong, spokesperson for the ACC Futures Coalition. “ACC was never intended to be an insurance company. It is disappointing that the board and the government cannot see beyond this model. The founders of the scheme always saw it as a vital form of social assistance that would be there to support us all when we needed it, regardless of the risk of the activities in which we engaged “

“Having said this, much will depend on how Mr. Pickering actually performs in the job,” said Ms. Armstrong. “We had similar concerns about his predecessor but he showed that he was willing to engage and listen and we hope that Mr. Pickering will do the same. If he delivers on Paula Rebstock’s statement about ‘restoring public trust and confidence in ACC through transforming the business model to improve the quality of service delivery to clients’, then we will be happy’.”

“The ACC Futures Coalition will be seeking to meet with Mr. Pickering at the earliest possible opportunity to discuss the future of the scheme under his management and our thoughts about how the scheme can be improved.”

ENDS

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