Leave ACC Alone Says NZ First

New Zealand First has told the government not to privatise accident insurance and to leave the state-run accident compensation system alone.

ACC Minister Nick Smith today released a discussion document proposing to give employers the choice of buying work-related personal injury insurance from ACC or from a private insurer.

Rt. Hon Winston Peters says ACC is not perfect but handing work related personal injury insurance to the private sector would be disastrous move for both workers and employers.

“You only have to look at the Christchurch earthquake scene where an insurance company had to seek government financial support to meet its obligations to policy holders because of the strain on its finances.

“Insurance companies will go for work related cover simply to make money out of the premiums – not to supply adequate cover for workers and employers.

“Insurance companies do not insure workers and employers out of charity. They do it for hard cold cash and as much of it as possible.

“This is just another stupid privatising move by a government that is making bad decisions by the hour,” said Mr Peters.

Put simply it is a payback time for National and Act funders.

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