Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
“Give us Access to Justice”
10 Oct. 17
“Give us Access to Justice”
The Law Society is right to call for ACC appeals to go to the Supreme Court. “A particular group of people are being discriminated against by denying those with a disability caused by injury access to the Supreme Court” says Dr Denise Powell, spokesperson for Acclaim Otago (Inc). Acclaim Otago strongly believes it is high time this was changed to be on equal footing with the rest of New Zealand who are able to take their legal appeals to the highest court in the land.
Just recently the Law Society’s call for ACC appeals to go to the Supreme Court was rejected and the ACC minister does not believe this legislative change is necessary. “It is completely inequitable, that people who wish to challenge ACC decisions continue to be treated as second-class citizens by the Government” says Dr Powell.
“We need our highest court to provide oversight over ACC and the Personal Injury system. All we are asking for is access to justice on the same basis as everyone else. The Government signed up to do this when they ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD), but they are not complying with the spirit of the Convention. When the Government refuses to change the legislation that would allow the same access to the Supreme Court available to every other New Zealander with a legal dispute, they contravene the UNCRPD”.
ends
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