6 December 2012

Compensation Saga Shows a Need for Royal Commission Inquiry

New Zealand First congratulates the Corrections Department for finally settling a claim with RSA attack survivor Susan Couch but says the 11 year wait was far too long.

However, Rt Hon Winston Peters is calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the way Ms Couch has been treated by ACC.

“It is outrageous that ACC will not pay compensation to Ms Couch because she is on a social welfare benefit.

“Clearly she is a victim of a serious assault that nearly claimed her life. Any right-minded person can see that she should be entitled to compensation from ACC.”

Mr Peters says successive governments have tinkered with ACC over the years to little effect in terms of assisting Ms Couch.

“That is simply not good enough.

“We need a full Royal Commission of Inquiry to assess the failings of ACC in this regard so regulations can be changed and Ms Couch, and other victims of serious crimes, can be compensated.”

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>