Dr JACKIE BLUE (National) on behalf of MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister for ACC: What accident and injury data has led the Accident Compensation Corporation this week to run a high-profile campaign on improving safety in the home?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for ACC) : There are two worrying trends in home injury data. First, 573 New Zealanders died in accidents in the home last year. That is more than the 375 killed in road accidents and the 123 killed in workplace accidents combined. The campaign is intended to raise awareness of home injuries, because public discussion tends to focus on those accidents on the road and in the workplace. The second worrying trend is the 36 percent increase in the last 2 years in the cost of people injured in the home, which now exceeds $640 million per year.
Dr Jackie Blue: What are the implications of these sharp increases in accident compensation costs for accidents in the home for the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) and for levy payers?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Home accidents are paid through the earners levy, which is currently $1.70 per $100 of earnings. This increase and other increases across the scheme are putting huge pressure on the current levy. Although we can push out the full funding date to try to constrain levy increases in the work and motor vehicle accounts, that has very little effect on the earners account. Earners levy increases are inevitable, but the Government is doing everything possible to try to constrain costs. The campaign we are running is part of a broad strategy to better manage the scheme’s costs.
Hon David Parker: How can the victims of sexual abuse receiving treatment through the scheme have any confidence that the Government is properly looking after their interests, given the conflicting statements made last sitting week, when, firstly, the Hon Pansy Wong confirmed on 25 August that there were new clinical guidelines—saying, indeed, this is a new guideline—and a day later the Hon Nick Smith said that no final decisions have yet been made?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I am surprised by the linkage the member makes between home injuries and the issue of sexual offending.
Hon David Parker: Where does most sexual abuse occur?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Well, they are different categories, and properly so. It is a sensitive area. The Government has said that the clinical guidelines for dealing with such sensitive claims will be addressed by clinicians, not by politicians.
Hon David Parker: How can the Minister maintain his assertion that no final decisions have been made, when ACC is already advertising for the triage clinical psychologist who will be “leading and coordinating the new triage process for sensitive claims”, and will the Minister or his staff be making an urgent telephone to the corporation after question time today to find out what really is happening?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I say to the member that, no, I will not. I note that the change in dealing with sensitive claims was launched by none other than Steve Maharey, now of Massey University, when he was a Labour Party member of Parliament. Frankly, I am surprised at members opposite stooping to the level of using sensitive sexual claims as an area in which to play politics.
Hon David Parker: I seek leave to table a copy of the ACC advertisement for the triage clinical psychologist for the sensitive claims project, which the Minister said has not started yet.
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is none. [Interruption] The dilemma is that I had actually said there was no objection, prior to the Minister saying he did object. Therefore I had ruled on the matter.
Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The reason I objected is that the member in seeking the leave made an incorrect assertion at the end. That was the reason for the objection.
Mr SPEAKER: We do not need to pursue this matter any further. I have dealt with it. The document can be tabled.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/e/f/1/49HansD_20090908_00000060-Questions-for-Oral-Answer-Questions-to-Ministers.htm
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