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.”
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