Hon Max Bradford Opposition Labour Spokesperson

10 February 2000

Overseas expert rejects Clark statements on ACC

Evidence presented at yesterday's ACC select committee meeting by an international expert on workers compensation, proves conclusively that the Prime Minister has not only got her facts wrong about international experience with private insurance based workers compensation, but was making up her answers in Parliament on Tuesday, Opposition Labour spokesman Max Bradford said.

United States insurance expert Mr Greg Krohm's most telling comment was that no other country in the world is moving in the direction New Zealand is to re-nationlise workers compensation schemes.

"Based on the dismal performance of monopoly state providers of workers' compensation in countries like the United States, Canada and Australia, these countries are all changing to private schemes which give far better results in terms of health and safety, and lower costs for employers.

"This Government is not only determined to go against the tide of New Zealand opinion, but the world at large.

'Mr Krohm's submission yesterday is further evidence that the Government has got this badly wrong. Evidence to the select committee is now overwhelmingly against changes to the ACC legislation.

"I am encouraged to learn that Mr Krohm is to meet with Ruth Dyson as part of his trip here - at least he may be able to talk some sense into her.

"If he can not, then, as part of Labour and the Alliance's great step backwards, New Zealanders are about to lose out on benefits the rest of the world is enjoying - and all for the sake of ideology," Mr Bradford said.

Ends

© Scoop Media