CTU MEDIA RELEASE
17 June 2008
World leading ACC scheme needs protecting, not dumping
The Council of Trade Unions said today that the case to retain ACC as a monopoly provider of workplace accident cover was clear, and called on political parties who support increased "choice" in workplace cover to explain why.
The CTU is tonight hosting the launch of a new book on the ACC scheme by health and safety lawyer Hazel Armstrong setting out why the scheme was set up, the benefits it brings to the country and the case against privatisation.
"ACC is a world leader and
brings both economic benefits and social benefits to the
country, as evidenced in the recent PriceWaterHouseCoopers
report
"Last week we
asked
"When
National last promoted so-called choice in accident
compensation cover it was a disaster. One of the providers,
a subsidiary of HIH Insurance, had up to 40 percent of
workplace cover, yet HIH went into liquidation with losses
of around $1 billion. Fortunately, the Government had by
then changed ACC back to public provision". Richard
Wagstaff said that the scheme could be further strengthened
by amendments to ACC law, due back before Parliament today,
increasing cover to workers affected by exposure to a sudden
traumatic event at work. He challenged parties who opposed
the law change to front up to workers such as the train
driver
ENDS