Pansy Wong MP
National Party ACC Spokeswoman

22 February 2007

$5.1 million spent marketing state monopoly

National Party ACC spokeswoman Pansy Wong is shocked by the size of a marketing budget for an ACC charm offensive.

"$5.1 million for a state monopoly to advertise its existence seems a bit of a waste. Remember - ACC has no competition."

Mrs Wong put questions about the campaign to a defensive ACC Minister Ruth Dyson in Parliament today.

"How insensitive is it for the family of the late Mr Karl Kuchenbecker to hear that anyone can get cover even if they injure themselves - and that may even stretch to include convicted killer Graeme Burton?

"The amount of money that Labour is spending to 'sell' ACC looks even more dubious when laid next to the decision to refuse an increase in the subsidies for injury related visits to the doctor because their trial, which saw a 3% increase in doctor's visits, wasn't deemed to be cost-effective.

"By the Minister's own admission, workers and businesses are paying for this extravagance. The public want better services - not flashy campaigns for state monopolies."

ENDS

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