25 August 2005

National's ACC Policy

The role of government in relation to personal injury by accident is to promote an effective insurance market which provides choice, guarantees a 24-hour no-fault accident insurance cover for all New Zealanders, and promotes a fair and practical legal framework. National remains fully committed to the no-fault, 24-hour accident compensation scheme, as first introduced in 1972.

National wants an accident insurance model for all New Zealanders that provides clear incentives to prevent accidents, minimises risk taking, encourages workplace safety, and incentivises early diagnosis, active case management and early rehabilitation - a system that provides choice of insurer and greater opportunities and benefits for all New Zealanders.

National will:

- Ensure certainty of coverage.

- Guarantee a 24-hour no-fault accident insurance cover.

- Offer Kiwis choice of insurer by allowing competition.

- Competition will be allowed in all accounts except the non-earners' account.

- An industry-wide, independent, dispute resolution process will be reinstated.

- OSH will be revamped to create an efficient, effective body that will uphold health and safety legislation.

- There will be co-ordination of national injury prevention campaigns carried out in conjunction with Ministry of Health, insurers, OSH and industry.

- Changes to ACC legislation will happen early in our first term in government.

- By retaining the non-earners' account within ACC, there will be no change to cover arrangements for non-earners involved in sport.

ENDS

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