Andrew
Little
ACC Spokesperson

23 August 2012 MEDIA STATEMENT

ACC Fiasco Starts And Stops With The Minister

The Privacy Commissioner’s report into the ACC leaks is a litany of leadership gone wrong, Labour’s ACC spokesperson Andrew Little says.

“In slamming the culture at ACC, the Commissioner says it is ‘vital’ for a change starting at the top.

“So let’s start with Judith Collins. This whole fiasco is a direct consequence of the Government clearing out experienced board members, putting in their own, overseeing strategies aimed at cost cutting rather than treatment and rehabilitation – which a more experienced board member might have expressed caution about – and then not recognising they were facing allegations of serious problems with the Corporation’s conduct.

“It is not good enough to name and blame others. The Cabinet that Ms Collins is part of has driven the agenda on this and she must take responsibility for the fallout.

“It’s not enough for ACC to be a clip-on to a senior Minister’s other roles.

“If the Government is serious about change from the top then it should start by having a dedicated minister in the role who can work closely with the board and senior management to bring about the necessary changes.

“We will only know the government has taken the reports of both the Privacy Commissioner and the Auditor-General seriously when it appoints a minister who can win public confidence.

“It is essential, too, that the recommendations are put into effect as soon as possible, so that ACC can once again stand by its reputation as a world-class insurance agency,” said Andrew Little.

labour.org.nz

ENDS

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