11 September 2001 Media Statement

Third reading for Injury Prevention Bill

The Government's injury prevention Rehabilitation and Compensation Bill was given its third reading in the House today. ACC Minister, Lianne Dalziel, said the Bill restores the social contract that underpinned the original ACC scheme.

"The legislation prioritises injury prevention which can only really occur if we develop a culture of safety in the home, workplace and community and on the road and sports grounds. ACC is committed to working with communities and industries, employers and employees to ensure that we all Thinksafe", Lianne Dalziel said.

Lianne Dalziel said that as soon as the Bill gets the Royal Assent work will commence on the development of the code of claimant's rights which is an essential feature of the new legislation.

Lianne Dalziel also said that the rehabilitation provisions of the Bill have been welcomed by health professionals, employers and claimants alike. ACC case managers will be very much focussed on meeting the needs of claimants to ensure that their rehabilitation needs are met. In the past concerns have been raised that too much attention has been focussed on getting people off the scheme rather than seeing a positive rehabilitation outcome.

"I am confident that this Bill will restore confidence in the scheme" Lianne Dalziel said.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>