31 March 2009 Media Statement
ACC board changed to prepare for privatisation

National’s decision to remove over half of the ACC board is another step towards pushing through its plans to radically change ACC, says Labour ACC spokesman David Parker.

“Dr Smith has already misrepresented ACC’s financial situation to the public as a pretext to justify reducing the scope of ACC cover and to soften people up to the privatisation of a major part of ACC.

“Let’s hope the new board is able to stand up to the bullying behaviour he has already displayed towards ACC chief executive Jan White and Transport and Industrial Relations select committee chairman David Bennett.”

ACC Minister Nick Smith confirmed today that five of the eight board members were being replaced, including former Chairman Ross Wilson and Wayne Butson.

“These two former board members both have extensive knowledge of worker safety issues and Mr Butson was the Council of Trade Unions nominee,” Mr Parker said.

“Dr Smith obviously wants to get rid of people with an active interest in workers’ safety so that the Government faces less opposition to its plans to privatise the Work Account.

“This will be bad news for employers as well as employees. Employers in Australia, where there are a mix of public and privatised schemes, pay on average 250 per cent more in levies than employers in New Zealand.

ENDS

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