Injury stats further proof ACC doesn’t need privatizing

The release of figures showing the number of work-related injuries is declining is further evidence that there is no justification for cutting ACC cover and moving to privatise it, says Labour’s ACC spokesperson David Parker.

“The figures released by Statistics New Zealand show total work-related injury claims fell from 246,800 in 2005 to 235,000 claims in 2007 and provisional figures show them dropping again in 2008.

“The statistics also show the incidence rate of injury is also on the decline.

“The number of claims per 1,000 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) for ‘elementary’ occupations such as labourers, which have the highest incidence rates, has dropped from 292 claims in 2005 to 273 in 2007. Provisional figures for 2008 show the rate has dropped to 239 in 2008.

“This is good news and it shows ACC, employers and unions have worked hard to bring down injury rates in the workplace.

“It also raises more questions about the Government’s scaremongering campaign on ACC, which is part of a deliberate strategy to fundamentally undermine public confidence in this world-leading scheme.

“Given the spin we have seen recently, it would be no surprise if ACC Minister Nick Smith attempted to try and put a different light on the figures. But they speak for themselves,” David Parker says.

“These figures reinforce the fact that New Zealand’s ACC scheme costs less than Australian equivalents in part because injury prevention programmes are better funded and co-ordinated under the Government-run ACC system. ACC is not fundamentally broken. There is no case for privatisation.”

ENDS

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