Evasive ACC has Minister’s backing

ACC Minister Ruth Dyson must move to clear up confusion over the $2 million worth of contracts her department has spent on hiring private investigators over the past two years, says National’s ACC spokeswoman, Pansy Wong.

“The Minister justifies spending that $2 million because she says many of the claimants investigated end up having their entitlements validated.

“But that is in stark contrast to the performance criteria set down by ACC in current contracts with investigators.

“Those contracts say ACC wants an 80% rate for successful outcomes, with success meaning things like prosecution, cessation or suspension of entitlement, and civil action.

“So what is the true situation?

“I know ACC is confused. When approached by the media with copies of contracts stipulating the 80% success rate, it has said it isn’t aware the criteria existed.

“With such confusion, is it any wonder the review of contracts for private investigators is still going on – given that the contracts expired in January 2007 – and can we have confidence in the review’s outcome?”

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