26 August 2009 Media Statement
National bows to media pressure- but what about the victims

Victims of sexual abuse have been left in limbo by a partial back down by the Government on changes to ACC funding for counselling services, Labour’s Victims Rights Spokesperson Lynne Pillay says.

“Labour welcomes the decision by National to back down on a cruel proposal that would have required victims of sexual abuse to repeat their story of abuse over and over again to an ACC assessor in order to receive counselling.

“However, we have serious concerns that the National Party are subjecting sexual abuse victims to continued uncertainty around access to counselling.

“Yesterday the National Party defended changes to counselling for sexual abuse victims saying they were in the best interests of victims, but just a few hours later ACC informed media that they would not be going ahead with the cruel proposals because they wouldn’t work.

“National had earlier rejected advice from psychotherapists and victims rights groups and it was only when media became increasingly involved did they back-down.

“I congratulate the Association of Psychotherapists and victims rights groups who have publicly highlighted the arrogant actions of the Government in attempting to cut access to counselling,” Lynne Pillay said.

“ACC Minister Nick Smith’s claims today the back down had been because of clinical input were completely cynical and simply unbelievable. He was put under public pressure and was forced to back down on a proposal that should never have been put forward in the first place.

“It is extremely disappointing that vulnerable victims of sexual abuse have been subjected to cheap politicking by National. The reality is National already had clinical advice that its proposals wouldn’t work and yet it still went out publicly threatening to strip victims of access to counselling in a shameful attempt at cost cutting.

“Nick Smith today refused to provide any public guarantees that victims of sexual abuse would continue to have access to counselling services without further political interference or cost saving measures.

“Victims of sexual abuse have suffered greatly and they should be given every guarantee that they will be supported to recover from the trauma they have suffered,” Lynne Pillay said

ENDS

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