10 Oct. 17
“Give us Access to Justice”
The Law Society is right to call for ACC appeals to go to the Supreme Court. “A particular group of people are being
discriminated against by denying those with a disability caused by injury access to the Supreme Court” says Dr Denise
Powell, spokesperson for Acclaim Otago (Inc). Acclaim Otago strongly believes it is high time this was changed to be on
equal footing with the rest of New Zealand who are able to take their legal appeals to the highest court in the land.
Just recently the Law Society’s call for ACC appeals to go to the Supreme Court was rejected and the ACC minister does
not believe this legislative change is necessary. “It is completely inequitable, that people who wish to challenge ACC
decisions continue to be treated as second-class citizens by the Government” says Dr Powell.
“We need our highest court to provide oversight over ACC and the Personal Injury system. All we are asking for is access
to justice on the same basis as everyone else. The Government signed up to do this when they ratified the UN Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD), but they are not complying with the spirit of the Convention. When
the Government refuses to change the legislation that would allow the same access to the Supreme Court available to
every other New Zealander with a legal dispute, they contravene the UNCRPD”.
ends