Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Report to UN calls for ACC Commissioner

5th August 2014

Report to UN calls for ACC Commissioner

John Key today announced to the Chamber of Commerce that the Government would be keeping $180 million that ACC doesn’t need. Spokesperson for Acclaim Otago, Denise Powell says “Acclaim Otago just this week submitted its final report to the UN calling for an independent ACC Commissioner. The call for a commissioner is supported by 20 independent lawyers and advocacy organisations, including the Council of Trade Unions. We think that is very telling”.

As Acclaim Otago’s report explains, the Government cannot be relied upon to protect the rights of ACC claimants because of its financial conflict of interest.

“The Government needs to stop prioritising money over people”, continues Dr Powell. “Acclaim Otago’s report was informed by a survey of 600+ people, who shared their experience of losing their homes, suicide, and systemic injustice. We think the Prime Minister’s announcement today failed to acknowledge this human cost”.

Warren Forster, who was commissioned by Acclaim Otago as one of the authors of the report states “The consensus of experts agrees that the current system does not hold ACC to account and there is a need to establish a proper independent commissioner to be funded from ACC’s massive financial reserves. The Government's latest proposal to replace Judges in the District Court with a tribunal is yet another example of eroding external controls on the Government and ACC”.

There are 320,000 people with long term disability caused by accident or injury in New Zealand according to Statistics New Zealand and ACC only provides support to a fraction of these. It is highly likely that many of these people would have retained their ACC entitlements if the system provided proper access to justice through the Courts.

The reports are available at www.acclaimotago.org/un

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.