Paper shows ACC policy is “scandalous”

Auckland, October 22, 2010:

ACC policy changes for dealing with hearing injuries is discriminatory, breaches international treaties and endorses unsafe working environments, according to a paper released today by the National Foundation for the Deaf.

The paper, which has been sent to all Members of Parliament, provides in-depth background on the ACC law changes.

“What comes out of this is that the changes by ACC are nothing short of scandalous,” NFD chief executive Louise Carroll said.

“This document shows ACC has turned its back on its foundation principles, has ignored due process, is ignoring its obligations to rehabilitate injury, and is actually costing the country money through lost taxes, lost spending, and the burden injured workers have on the health and welfare systems.

“If our politicians take the time to read this, they will understand how wrong the whole process has been.”

Mrs Carroll said that in implementing the 6 percent threshold for hearing injury, the government did not take up a single point raised in submissions to the select committee by virtually every organisation in the hearing disability sector.

She said ACC’s financial projections were flawed, the law changes were not supported by science, and the result was financial hardship for those affected by noise injuries at work.

“This document sets out in detail the human impact and the financial impact, it shows how the government is ignoring its legal obligations,” she said.

Key points include:
- ACC is discriminating against injured workers on the basis of disability, age and race
- The changes flout existing New Zealand law and international treaties we have signed up to
- Existing regulations dealing with noisy workplaces fall far short of internationally accepted practice
- ACC is attempting to redefine “injury” to be a degree of injury rather than the “fact” of injury
- By introducing a 6% threshold for noise damage ACC is condoning noise damage below that level
- Lack of rehabilitation for sound injury places injured workers and their colleagues at risk

The Be heard Position Paper can be found on: http://www.nfd.org.nz/site_resources/library/Homepage/MP_Position_Paper.pdf

ENDS

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