PRESS RELEASE
ACCLAIM OTAGO (INC)

22.3.2012

MPs, Judges, and ACC Board Members have “VIP” status at ACC

Parliament has been focussing this week on an allegation that a Minister of the Crown's involvement in an individual ACC case has resulted in preferential treatment.

"It is important to note that ACC already gives preferential treatment to an established list of VIPs," says Dr Denise Powell, president of Acclaim Otago.

“ACC has a policy on “VIPs” that includes all Members of Parliament, Members of the Judiciary and ACC Board Members and their immediate families. If a VIP suffers an accident, they get preferential treatment within ACC”.

Dr Powell backs up her claim with a section from ACC’s own Delegations Manual, which provides delegations from the Board of ACC to the Chief Executive and staff pursuant to Clause 25 of schedule 5 of the Accident Compensation Act 2001 and section 73 of the Crown Entities Act 2004. The delegation manual states at 7.13.1 that these claims are to be handled differently.

“If the service provided by ACC is world leading, why would the manager of the ACC service centre have to handle the VIP claim, rather than the service centre staff? What is it about ACC's ‘normal’ service that is insufficient for VIP treatment?" asks Powell.

“Perhaps it is because their privacy is more important” she muses.

"It appears that ACC staff have been instructed to 'try everything' to 'exit' people from ACC, regardless of whether they have been successfully rehabilitated." Powell continues "The VIP status seems to be focused on insulating those with influence over ACC; those who make the law, interpret the law and oversee its application. By wrapping them in cotton wool, ACC prevents them from being subjected to their 'try everything' approach that results in so much heartache to ordinary New Zealanders."

Dr Powell believes it is time such anomalies within ACC are investigated and explained. “New Zealand is a nation that prides itself on fairness and equality. The very mechanisms like ACC that were designed to promote fairness and rehabilitation for everyone, should never have been allowed to be used to give preferential treatment to one group of New Zealanders over another. The fact that this list was promulgated by those within ACC illustrates the need for a fresh and independent look at the Corporation and how the scheme is being managed," she concludes.

ENDS

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