Andrew
LITTLE
ACC Spokesperson

04 September 2012 MEDIA STATEMENT

New board hardly the culture change ACC needs

If new appointments to the ACC board are meant to herald a culture change for the Corporation then you have to wonder exactly what sort of culture the Government is now promoting within the organisation, Labour’s ACC spokesperson Andrew Little says.

The new appointments, which include Paula Rebstock as chair, Professor Des Gorman and Trevor Janes, were announced by ACC Minister Judith Collins today.

"ACC is crying out for stable, moderate and inclusive leadership. Unfortunately today's appointments show a sharp lurch to the right and a deepening of the disentitlement culture.

"So much for Judith Collins' claims that she wanted more diverse representation on the board. Where is the voice of the 2.4 million wage and salary earners who pay ACC levies?

"Paula Rebstock's track record demonstrates no empathy or understanding of the social insurance model ACC represents. It is interesting to note - given Ms Collins said former chair John Judge was stepping down as he would be too busy with his new role as chair of ANZ - that Ms Rebstock currently holds 12 positions.

"Professor Gorman has been a senior medical adviser to ACC for many years and has given some of the most retrograde advice on claimants' files I've known. He was the subject of many complaints over his advice about occupational overuse syndrome in the 1990s.

“While publicity material doesn’t mention it, ‘new’ board member Trevor Janes was a director of the Corporation at the time it was being lined up for privatisation by National in the late 90s.

“These appointments inspire no confidence at all and claimants are entitled to feel uneasy,” said Andrew Little.

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