Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Licence needed for work use Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Motorists already paying more

Labour
2000 web site "Motorists in New Zealand have not forgotten that they already paying $50 more for their ACC levy because of Mr McCully's plan to privatise another ACC account," Labour ACC spokesperson Ruth Dyson said today.

"And National's policy launch today sends a very strong message that all accounts are up for privatisation in the future," Ms Dyson said.

"Mr McCully is still desperately trying to persuade New Zealanders that his so called reforms in ACC are working. But for many small businesses, the whole process has been a nightmare.

"Private insurance companies are using the same failed technique that ACC used of experience rating or burn clauses to promote safety. This method has not worked under ACC and it is not working now. Real incentives for injury prevention - combined with a sound process of education of the workforce and employers - will get accident numbers down. That's exactly what Labour's policy will deliver.

"While totally bereft of any new initiatives, Mr McCully forgets that his Government has had 9 years to promote injury prevention - and has done nothing. To claim support for the Woodhouse principles while pledging to privatise the visionary scheme developed by Sir Owen Woodhouse, is just insulting.

"We all agree about the problems that have surrounded ACC - particularly since the disastrous reforms that Bill Birch introduced in 1992. But Labour wants to rebuild the scheme and learn from the mistakes of the past. Mr McCully is determined to remain stuck in his ideological timewarp and just privatise more.

"The $50 increase in ACC costs would seem like a drop in the bucket to the increased costs that motorists would face under the next round. Mr McCully may have a short term memory loss, but the rest of the country does not," Ruth Dyson concluded.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

© Scoop Media

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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

Featured 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.