Injury prevention in National’s line of fire

Health and safety training is just the latest casualty of National’s war on injury prevention programmes, says Labour’s ACC Spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway.
“As soon as it became the Government, National started axing prevention programmes. It began in 2009 when proven programmes to prevent elderly people having falls were scrapped.

“That was despite a review of ACC’s 2008/09 investment in injury prevention which showed intervention programmes were good value for money. For every $1 invested, at least $1.12 and up to $1.23 was saved.

“Since 2008/09, funding for these high-value prevention programmes has fallen from $39.5 million to $22.4 million, a 43 per cent cut.

“This is typical of National Party governments that are only focussed on short-term cost cutting, not on long term strategies to reduce the burden of injury and disease.

“At the same time as it is cutting back on prevention, ACC is refusing to accept more claims, kicking more people off compensation and denying home help support to more of its clients.

“The agency is one of New Zealand’s greatest assets, yet it has become callous under National and Kiwis are losing faith in it.

“When Labour is re-elected, we will work to restore confidence in ACC. It is a world-leading organisation, but only when it is allowed to properly carry out its function to prevent, treat and support recovery from injuries.

2008/09
2012/13
Reduction
Total prevention spend
$39.5 m
$22.4 m
43%
Motor vehicle account
$7.1 m
$5 m
30%
Earners’ account
$6.1 m
$4.3 m
29%
Work account
$16.6 m
$9.7 m
42%
Treatment injury account
$652
$0
100%

ends

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