The Swamp Report: August 2010

31 August 2010

Question for written answer

26941 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Does he have any evidence to support the statement he made in the House on 17 August 2010 that half of the claimants were turned down under Labour because he tabled a document on 27 October 2009 that said the decline rate was 40.5% in 2008?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: The decline rate for sensitive claims for the last full year in 2008 was 40.5%, up from 32.7% the previous year, and from 6% when Labour became Government. The decline rate by November 2008 at the time of the change of Government was approximately half.

http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/3/4/e/QWA_26941_2010-26941-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

30 August 2010

Question for written answer

26479 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Will ACC be contacting those people declined cover under the new clinical pathway introduced on 27 October 2009 to offer them 16 hours of counselling as per the media statement of 11 August 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: ACC has contacted all clients with a new claim already lodged, but still awaiting a decision, to advise them of the 16 hours of support and how to access them. ACC is still working through a number of details which are yet to be finalised with regard to this support. These details include what support will be available for people whose sensitive claim has previously been declined or reactivated. ACC is working closely with the sector via the Sensitive Claims Group (SCG) to determine an appropriate approach to this issue. ACC next meets with the SCG on 8 September 2010 and the resolution of this issue is a priority item on the agenda for that meeting.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/9/9/6/QWA_26479_2010-26479-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

Case for wider probe of ACC entitlement-cutting culture now even stronger

A post from Frogblog by Kevin Hague

A couple of weeks back I responded to ACC’s u-turn on handling sensitive claims by calling for a wider and urgent review of all the changes to entitlements and assessment procedures in order to save money, with a view to identify other categories of people who are being revictimised by the changes. So far there has been no response from Minister Smith.
Sunday’s revelations in the Sunday Star-Times about the role played by Felicity Goodyear-Smith are further cause for this investigation: we simply have to know whether ACC has been colonised by a sick culture, totally at odds with the Woodhouse principles and the intent of the scheme.
ACC both commissioned Dr Goodyear-Smith to provide advice on a number of occasions and then, according to the Sunday Star-Times, attempted to cover this up.
Dr Goodyear-Smith’s history of association with the Centrepoint “community” and extremely controversial views about sexual abuse are well-known.
It seems, then, that her engagement by ACC can only have occurred through some catastrophic failure of process and judgment or through a deliberate set of actions intended to reduce support for sensitive claimants.
New Zealanders need to know which of these it is and to be confident that this kind of disaster cannot recur. It’s time for Nick Smith to launch the urgent investigation that I have called for.

http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/08/30/case-for-wider-probe-of-acc-entitlement-cutting-culture-now-even-stronger/

29 August 2010

Figures worry Labour

A news report from Newstalk ZB

Labour is worried about new research on domestic violence which shows women are often not getting help even when they do speak out.
Auckland University has found 40 percent of women who experience sexual or physical abuse at the hands of a partner do not get help when they ask for it.
Labour's Lynne Pillay says the Government is not doing much to help. She says even after ACC's back-flip on sexual abuse counselling, it is still much harder now for victims to get support.
Ms Pillay says it is lunacy to see prevention measures being dumped and the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, in the form of counselling, is gone too, so it is effectively a double whammy.

ACC adviser silent on links to sex abusers

An article from the Sunday Star Times by Tim Hume

Concerns are being raised over changes at ACC that denied sex crime victims access to treatment. Critics allege the changes were partly based on advice from an academic who is married to a sex offender.
Auckland University medical and health sciences faculty professor Felicity Goodyear-Smith was one of the authors of a 2005 paper on sexual abuse counselling funded by ACC.
She is the daughter-in-law of Centrepoint community leader and convicted paedophile Bert Potter. His son, her husband John, was jailed in 1993 on historic charges of indecent assault at Centrepoint. Her paper recommended a diagnosis of mental injury, as defined by the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, be made at the outset of treatment. Last year ACC accepted that criteria for those seeking support, denying hundreds of victims counselling and outraging counsellors, who said labelling sex crime victims mentally ill was stigmatising and unethical.
New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists' sensitive claims spokesman Kyle MacDonald said there were "obvious parallels" between the new rules and the research, and his group was opposed to Goodyear-Smith's involvement in ACC-commissioned sexual abuse research.
The mental injury diagnosis was not included in a 2008 Massey University guideline, a widely accepted document outlining best practice in the sexual abuse field, which ACC says guided its policy.
Last year's changes saw a drop in sexual abuse claims, prompting ACC Minister Nick Smith to set up a review panel that reports next month, but ACC has already reinstated 16 hours of counselling for victims.
Goodyear-Smith, who lived for years on Centrepoint land, working as the community's GP, is an outspoken critic of sexual abuse counselling, saying it can be as damaging as sexual abuse itself, and once telling a newspaper the "ACC scam's one of the biggest there is". She is the founder of a support group for men accused of sex crimes, and has acted for them in the courts and the media over the past 16 years.
Counsellor Barri Leslie – herself a former Centrepoint member – alleges Goodyear-Smith provides "an academic veneer" for attitudes similar to Bert Potter's. "It's outrageous she's been commissioned by ACC in the area of sexual abuse counselling," she said.
A special investigation in today's Focus outlines similarities between Bert Potter's and Goodyear-Smith's positions, including that not all sexual activity between adults and children is damaging.
ACC told the Star-Times last year it had not commissioned research from Goodyear-Smith but now admits it did. Smith's spokesman distanced him from the research, saying it occurred three years before he became minister, and that he had no information on the matter. "The minister does have concerns about the pathway and that is why he established the independent clinical review panel."
Goodyear-Smith would not be interviewed for the story.

© 2010 Fairfax New Zealand Ltd

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/4072453/ACC-adviser-silent-on-links-to-sex-abusers

Conflicting interests?

An article from the Sunday Star Times by Tim Hume

Professor Felicity Goodyear-Smith is a senior academic and doctor who was commissioned by ACC to research sexual abuse counselling. She is also the daughter-in-law of Centrepoint guru and paedophile Bert Potter, is married to a convicted sex offender and has controversial views on the workings of the 'sexual abuse industry'. Tim Hume examines allegations of Goodyear-Smith's influence in ACC's recent drastic cut in support for victims of sex crimes.
Last October, ACC changed the rules governing the support available to victims of sex crimes, introducing a heavily criticised new regime that severely restricted access to counselling.
But what most concerned critics was an apparent similarity between a requirement in the new "clinical pathway", and a recommendation contained in research ACC had commissioned from a controversial senior academic. The research was led by Professor Felicity Goodyear-Smith, who has been a vocal detractor of the field of sexual abuse counselling and who, as the daughter-in-law of Centrepoint founder Bert Potter, has ongoing personal relationships with convicted child sex offenders.
During the eight months following the clinical pathway's introduction, ACC paid out $7 million less to 2889 fewer claimants than it had over the same period a year previous. Approved new claims, running at 1313 in the eight months prior to the pathway's introduction, subsequently dropped to 240 over the same length of time. Among the hundreds to have their claims denied were two women believed to have later committed suicide.
Despite a record $4.8 billion loss sustained by ACC the previous financial year, ACC Minister Nick Smith stressed the policy was not an attempt to cut costs, but was driven by a desire to implement best practice for sexual abuse victims, known as "sensitive claimants". Critics dubbed the new pathway a "rapists' charter".
The scheme's many detractors were primarily concerned by a new requirement that, before they could access ACC counselling and support, claimants had to be diagnosed formally with a mental injury as defined by the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV). Whereas previously, ACC might have accepted a GP or counsellor's description of symptoms such as flashbacks, panic attacks or nightmares resulting from a sex crime, now a formal diagnosis of a mental illness such as post-traumatic stress disorder was needed.
It's unclear exactly why. Nowhere was a DSM-IV mental illness diagnosis specified in the so-called "Massey guidelines", the widely accepted 2008 best practice manual which ACC had commissioned from Massey University researchers, and which it cited as having guided the formulation of the pathway ...

Click here to read more.

© 2010 Fairfax New Zealand Ltd

27 August 2010

What Key should have said on crime

A blog entry from Frontline on Stuff by John Minto

On Wednesday Prime Minister John Key delivered a speech to the Sensible Sentencing Trust conference (sponsored by the National Party, Labour Party and ACT) at Parliament. It was a predictable presentation which avoided the obvious truth that if New Zealand ever had a policy with "economic disaster" written all over it then it's our crime and imprisonment policy.
Here is the speech John Key should have given:
Kia ora koutou e hoa ma,
Thank you for the invitation to speak today. As Prime Minister I'm particularly pleased to be here because I've developed serious misgivings about the influence of your organization on the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders not to mention our economic policy. We all want safer communities and the victims of crime supported but SST is pushing policies which are having the opposite effect. Let me explain.
In the past, many victims have been badly let down by the government. For example the Accident Compensation Corporation recently agreed to reinstate funding of counselling for all victims of sexual assault. That funding should never have been removed and I apologise for my government's financial pressure on ACC which led to the decision. Sexual assault victims deserve much better and we will be there to make sure such decisions are not repeated.

Click here to read more.

© 2010 Fairfax New Zealand Limited

Questions for written answer

26421 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Has the Minister or his Officials met with any of the written submitters to the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims, if so, who and on what date?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: The Clinical Review of the Sensitive Claims Clinical Pathway is an independent process undertaken by an independent panel. Consequently, specific details relating to written submitters are a matter for the review panel.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/2/4/1/QWA_26421_2010-26421-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

26432 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Does ACC have any estimates of how many people have not come forward who would have otherwise have come forward to seek sensitive claims support since the new clinical pathway was introduced on 27 Oct 2009?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: ACC have no such estimates.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/6/2/f/QWA_26432_2010-26432-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

23 August 2010

ACC has buckled to the crowd

A letter to the editor of the Dominion Post by Gordon Waugh

ACC has shamefully surrendered to the rants of a petulant sex-abuse industry and backed down over changes to the way claims are handled.
The legislation is clear. Cover for sexual abuse depends on a sexual crime having been committed and a consequent mental injury. Evidence of that crime is the starting point for claims. Mental injury must be correctly diagnosed. Those fundamental criteria are being conveniently ignored. In the absence of evidence of the claimed crime, every counsellor who submits a sex abuse claim to ACC commits the offence of using a document to gain financial advantage.Counsellors are unable to detect sexual crimes. Most cannot diagnose mental injury. But based on their amateurish beliefs, assumptions and claims of competence, ACC accepted more than 120,000 sex abuse claims in the past 20 years. That must stop.
ACC must stick to its legislative guns and ensure all sex-abuse claims are based on testable evidence of the claimed abuse and correct diagnosis of mental injury by genuine mental health professionals. Only then can appropriate treatment be provided.

© 2010 Fairfax New Zealand Ltd
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/4049555/Letter-ACC-has-buckled-to-the-crowd

22 August 2010

Smith bills public for waitress

An article from the Sunday Star Times by Jonathan Marshall

ACC Minister Nick Smith - annual salary $240,000 - got taxpayers to foot a $600 bill to have a waitress attend a dinner party in Wellington.
The dinner for members of ACC's board was held at Smith's ministerial home. The bill from Rough Edges Catering, issued to Smith and his wife, detailed "private catering" - a three-course dinner served up by a waitress who worked a four-hour shift. The $607.50 bill - which covered nine people - was split between ACC and Smith's ministerial office.
Smith defended the expenditure, saying that while he was capable of cooking, his time was better used conversing with ACC's board. He personally paid for the wine consumed during the dinner party.
Details of the dinner were contained in a bundle of credit card statements from ACC's chief executive, Dr Jan White. In the 24-month period ending in June, White racked up $33,646 on the corporation's plastic, with thousands going on dinners at top Wellington and Auckland restaurants including Logan Brown, Capitol, Vivo Wine Bar, The Yacht Club and One Tree Grill.
Revelations of big spending within the corporation's top-floor office come at a time Smith himself has said spending at the agency is out of control. When told about some of White's biggest restaurant bills, he reiterated that he expected restraint to be exercised.
ACC issued a statement defending the dinners, saying the corporation has a policy of recognising good workers. Spokesman Laurie Edwards said ACC was "extremely conscious of delivering value for money" and "that is why in the last year we have managed to cut $35 million from our administration budget".
In December last year, White spent $13,553 on four dinners, in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Dunedin. Her reconciliation form said the meals were to acknowledge "achievers" within ACC. Dinners for staff leaving included a farewell for Gerard McGrevy at Vivo Wine Bar (costing $756), for Graeme Osbourne at Zibibbo Restaurant ($790) and for Ian Simpson in March at Logan Brown ($1095). ACC did not disclose the quantity of alcohol consumed at each meal and the corporation did not respond when asked for them.
Not all of White's dining experiences came at a high cost to taxpayers - in March last year she spent just $12.50 at Central Otago's Tin Goose cafe.

21 August 2010

Sexual abuse treatment in shambolic disarray

An article from the Nelson Mail by Susan Hawthorne

"If this is supposed to be the gravy train, I'm on the wrong train." So said a colleague of mine about her experience of being part of the so-called "sexual abuse industry".
I echo her comments, applicable now to an even greater extent with the introduction last October of the New Pathway in the Sensitive Claims Unit of ACC. As a provider of treatment for injury from sexual abuse I am seen to benefit from this industry. It is, however, this experience which enabled me (and others) to predict with sickening foreboding likely developments if the proposed changes to the service went ahead. Every effort was made to warn the Minister of ACC, Dr Nick Smith, that the changes would be disastrous. He chose to rely on his policymakers, who appear to be pursuing ideological agendas which are favoured by this Government.
Chaos reigns in the SCU with staff overwhelmed, with therapists demoralised and many withdrawing their services, with potential clients left totally bewildered and lost. A tiny fraction of new claims only has been accepted since October. It has taken the independent review panel appointed by the Minister to intercede last week on behalf of clients to force the reinstatement of 16 hours to support each new claim. There is much confusion about who can submit claims, who can provide treatment or what will happen next if more sessions are needed. Apart from one media release, no further information has been forthcoming from ACC.
As ACC Minister, Dr Smith spent considerable time and energy blaming the previous minister for allowing policymakers to make apparently unwise property purchases and investments. Under his watch, the SCU has been all but destroyed.
Dr Smith has continued to claim that this process was begun under Labour. Indeed Massey University was asked to develop guidelines as a basis for therapy for treatment of sexual abuse. Under the current National Government, the guidelines were so badly misused that the authors of the report wrote to every newspaper in the country to distance themselves from the new pathway.
Dr Smith has repeatedly stated that "These changes are not about saving money." Presumably this is correct, as the result of deciding to require assessment for mental disorder for each new claim is that psychiatrists and psychologists have been flown around the country at vast expense to establish that the claimant is mentally ill rather than mentally injured. This gives each person accessing the service a mental diagnosis which goes with them for the rest of their lives. This policy still applies.
ACC is taking months to communicate decisions about whether they will or will not pay for sessions for clients in the system. Therapists face the dilemma of continuing to work at the risk of not being paid, or breaking our own ethical codes by stopping work with clients and leaving them feeling abandoned, isolated and unsupported.
For years now, sexual abuse clients have been specifically excluded from accessing mental health services because funding for their treatment was available though ACC. A proportion of our population has been abused, through no fault of their own and which untreated, can detrimentally affect them as individuals, as partners and as parents for the rest of their lives. The apparent overall plan under National is to cut back on social services to the community. Many such cuts are under the radar except for those people directly affected. More radical changes have been promised in their second term, should they win the next election.
Many therapists with specialist skills and years of experience in the treatment of sexual abuse have withdrawn their services and will not work for ACC again while current conditions apply.
Regrettably I am one of these. I am off the train.
(Susan Hawthorne is a registered psychotherapist, a member of the NZ Association of Psychotherapists, and a campaigner against injustice.)

© Fairfax New Zealand Ltd 2010
http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/nelson-mail-the/mi_8062/is_20100821/sexual-abuse-treatment-shambolic-disarray/ai_n54911803/

20 August 2010

Counselling is back on cards for sex abuse victims

An article from the Whakatane Beacon

A Whakatane counsellor says changes to ACC that allow 16 hours of counselling for sexual abuse victims is a desperately-needed improvement – but there is much more to be done.
From Monday this week, people with a new ACC sensitive claim, or with a new claim already in the system awaiting a decision, will be able to access up to 16 hours of counselling to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
Debbie Magee from Insight Counselling Services in Whakatane said there was still some details that needed to be finalised, such as what would happen to people who had been declined for assistance or who had relapsed since leaving counselling. “It’s a lot better than it was but it still needs to go further,” she said. “At least it gives survivors something in the meantime.”
The Government introduced a new sensitive claims “pathway” in October last year, which required people to be diagnosed with a mental illness as a result of sexual abuse in order to receive funding for counselling. The pathway required a doctor’s opinion and assessments from a psychologist or psychiatrist to determine whether a person has suffered a mental injury.
A group of Whakatane counsellors expressed their concerns to Labour MPs in March this year that the new legislation would result in at-risk patients not receiving the help they needed. They were also concerned they would end up providing their services for free, because they couldn’t refuse to help people in need.
The 16 hours of counselling is intended to provide support to survivors of sexual abuse and information gained by counsellors during these sessions would be used within the assessment process.
ACC general manager claims manager Denise Cosgrove said ACC had listened to concerns expressed by several groups that more support was needed but they would still be continuing to develop the sensitive claims process. “We still believe these are reasonable goals but acknowledge that the introduction of the pathway exposed gaps in the services available to people who have suffered sexual abuse,” she said.
Mrs Magee said ultimately she would like to see these people get a minimum 30 hours of counselling sessions, but 16 hours was better than nothing. “It gives us time to work with the person to help them cope better,” she said. “Hopefully it will give some survivors more confidence in coming forward again.” At the very least, it would likely include counsellors in the assessment process again, which was heartening, she said.
Victims rights spokesperson for the Labour party, Lynne Pillay, said this action did not go far enough and the cost cutting exercise should be stopped immediately. “Since National introduced this scheme thousands of sexual abuse survivors have been denied counselling,” Ms Pillay said. “Up to 90 per cent of claims for sexual abuse counselling has either been declined or put into a holding pattern since October last year.”
A Whakatane woman known as Rachel, who has been fighting ACC for compensation and funding for counselling for sexual abuse and whose case is being followed by the Beacon, will be entitled to receive counselling sessions under these changes. However, she said the process was still lengthy and, because ACC would likely be inundated with new claims, the system would be further bogged down.
Her advocate David Wadsworth said providing the preliminary counselling sessions was really just putting a band-aid on a more serious problem, which was ACC processes and the lengthy wait that claimants constantly endured. He said it was taking ACC an extraordinary amount of time to process claims and make decisions on whether or not they would be accepted since this new sensitive pathways legislation was imposed. Rachel, for example, had been in the system for nine months so far, awaiting a decision on her claim, despite her GP recommending she receive prompt and brief intervention to enable her return to work.

Help still available for abuse survivors

An article from the Manawatu Standard by Janine Rankin

Support for sexual abuse survivors was increased this week, but Palmerston North counsellor Paulette Berryman is worried people might have given up hope of getting help, and aren't aware it has just become easier to ask. The New Zealand Christian Counsellors' Association representative on the sensitive claims advisory group has welcomed this week's ACC support package for sexual abuse survivors.
Mrs Berryman said since ACC tightened up the process for accessing counselling last October, most people had stopped asking for help, and some who had persevered felt "battered" by the system. She used to receive four or five inquiries a week about sexual abuse counselling, but since October, has had only one.
Some sexual abuse counsellors had been working for free and others had given up counselling during the 10 months when survivors of sexual abuse had to be diagnosed as having suffered a mental injury before they could get treatment.
Under the interim system introduced this week, new claimants and people waiting for a decision on whether they qualify for treatment, can now get 16 hours "support". The support isn't available to people already in treatment or who have been turned down.
Mrs Berryman said she expected there would be a surge of demand for help under the new rules, but it hadn't happened. "Sexual abuse hasn't gone away. My concern is that people who have been discouraged from applying don't know that there is support available now."
She said it had taken enormous energy to persuade ACC to provide more help for sexual abuse survivors. "We have fought robustly, because we understand how difficult it is for people with sensitive claims to stand up and tell the world they were sexually abused and need help."
As well as advocating for clients, she was part of the advisory group that would be making further recommendations about details of the future support package, particularly how to help children, previous claimants who relapsed, and people who had been declined treatment.
The independent panel appointed to make final recommendations on the future process for handling sensitive claims is due to complete its work next month.

© 2010 Fairfax New Zealand Ltd
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/4044143/Help-still-available-for-abuse-survivors

17 August 2010

Question to Minister: ACC

Hon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader — Labour) to the Minister for ACC: Does he stand by his statement on Radio New Zealand’s Checkpoint programme of 12 August 2010: “I’m not satisfied that ACC has handled the issue of counselling services for sensitive claims that well. I’m going to await the final report from the independent clinical panel before drawing final conclusions”; if so, why?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for ACC): Yes, I do. I have been consistently cautious about interfering in the clinical decisions of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) in this sensitive area. But given the level of concern from colleagues and the public I have established an independent clinical panel to review the corporation’s approach. That panel is doing a very professional and thorough job.
Hon Annette King: Does he now accept that he was warned by clinicians, by survivors, by he National Council of Women, and by 3,976 people who, last October, signed a petition that stated: “By doing nothing and allowing these changes to occur unhindered you are choosing to make recovery from horrific abuse harder for some of the most vulnerable members of this society.”?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I draw the member’s attention to the advice from the Royal New Zealand Colleague of General Practitioners, and I quote what it said in November last year: “All the clinical evidence suggests that the new approach ACC is adopting will be in the best interests of the patient”. Given that sort of advice I have been cautious about getting involved in a clinical debate where I am not well qualified, but in response to the concerns of colleagues like Chester Borrows, Jackie Blue, and Nikki Kaye, I have set up an independent clinical panel and I will be ensuring that the advice of that panel is taken by the ACC to ensure that we are providing proper care for people who are sexually abused.
Hon Annette King: Did the ACC advise him that the process to change the clinical framework or clinical pathway was started under a Labour Government as he has claimed many times; if so, when?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Yes, that is the advice I have received. There was concern in the research that was commissioned in 2003, at Massey University, by the previous Government. The key element — and I am not an expert on the clinical issues — is that the clinical concern in that research was that unlimited counselling would do more harm than good for sensitive claimants. I am advised by the ACC that the changes in the pathway were begun in 2008.
Michael Woodhouse: What steps has the Minister taken to try to have the issues over sensitive claims addressed as quickly as possible?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH: The independent clinical panel wrote to me on 16 July seeking an extension of time until September to enable it to provide a comprehensive report. My concern was that this delay would put back the addressing of the problems in relation to providing for sensitive and vulnerable claimants. I agreed to the extension until mid-September subject to the panel providing interim recommendations. On receiving those recommendations I immediately wrote to the ACC board seeking their implementation as quickly as possible, which the board has done.
Hon Annette King: In light of the Minister’s answer to my previous question, is he saying that the ACC was not telling the truth when less than 1 month ago, in answer to an official information request, it said: “No work was undertaken on either the clinical framework or the clinical pathway prior to 2009”, and when it also said that the clinical framework was developed by the clinical services directorate in 2009, long after a Labour Government had left?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I stand—[Interruption]
Mr SPEAKER: I apologise to the Minister. I believe that the member has asked a serious question, and the member’s colleagues should listen to the answer.
Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I stand by the advice I have been given by the ACC, which is that the work on the clinical pathways began in 2008, prior to the change of Government, as those documents make plain. Labour has tried to politicise this issue, but the changes in sensitive claims have been totally driven by the ACC’s clinicians, not by Ministers. They have not been driven by Cabinet but by clinicians trying to do their very best for sensitive claimants.
Hon Annette King: I seek leave to table a document from the ACC, dated 30 July 2010, that points out that no work was done on the clinical framework or clinical pathway prior to 2009.
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. Document, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.
Hon Annette King: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Minister said that he had quoted from official documents from the ACC. I ask that he table them.
Mr SPEAKER: No, I do not believe that the Minister had an official document in his hand when he was answering that question.
Michael Woodhouse: What were underlying concerns that the ACC had that led to the changes, and has the Minister received any advice on whether those concerns were valid?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH: The concern that the corporation’s clinicians had, backed up by comprehensive research, was that ongoing unlimited counselling of victims of sexual abuse could lead to more harm than good. The clinical panel has confirmed the validity of this research and the need for professional oversight by psychiatrists and psychologists to ensure that long-term counselling is both beneficial and appropriate. I am advised by the clinical panel that where the corporation erred was in requiring such an assessment for all claimants when insufficient professional support was not available, resulting in unacceptable delays in providing care. I am confident that with the support and advice of the independent clinical panel we can improve the support provided for sensitive claimants.
Craig Foss: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. During that exchange, and prior to it, the member Darren Hughes questioned whether the Minister was telling the truth, quite a few times. Members cannot do that; all members are honourable. I ask that the member reflect on that and withdraw.
Mr SPEAKER: The member has taken offence, and, strictly, the member should not imply—
Hon Darren Hughes: I was very careful in what I said, Mr Speaker. I—
Mr SPEAKER: The member will not repeat what he said. I heard very clearly what the member said. Another member has taken offence. A member should not imply that another member is not telling the truth. I ask the Hon Darren Hughes to stand, withdraw, and apologise.
Hon Darren Hughes: I withdraw and apologise.
Mr SPEAKER: Lynne Pillay; a supplementary question. [Interruption] I say to the Labour front bench that I have called one of their colleagues. I expect them to show some courtesy to their own colleague.
Lynne Pillay: Will the Minister now require the ACC to identify the estimated 2,000 people who were unable to participate in his Government’s accident compensation process because it was too traumatic; and will he offer them counselling?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH: As of Monday the corporation is offering 16 counselling sessions for those people who seek the services of counsellors. The corporation will work through a final solution when the full report is available from the independent clinical panel. I point out to the members opposite who are interjecting that way in excess of 2,000 accident compensation claimants were turned down for counselling during the time of the previous Government. In fact, when Labour was in Government, half of those who sought counselling were turned down.
Hon Annette King: When the Minister said in the Nelson Mail last week that “Some days I’m in politics and I think, ‘What the hell am I doing?’”, will he now accept that the victims of his bungled policy are asking the same question?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH: It is a pity that the member chooses to selectively quote. The overwhelming point I would make—[Interruption] Well, the comment was made in reference to visiting an oil rig in Tasman Bay, and I am not sure that that is particularly relevant to the issue of sensitive claims. Members opposite have attempted to play politics with this highly sensitive issue. [Interruption] They have—they have played it for all it is worth, when all the papers show that this issue is, in essence, a clinical issue in which neither I as Minister nor the board, for that matter, has made substantive decisions.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1008/S00258/questions-and-answers-17-august-2010.htm

Sunlight is the best disinfectant

An article from Beehive Chat by Tariana Turia

Last week's announcement by ACC to provide up to sixteen counselling sessions to sexual abuse survivors while their claim is being dealt was welcome news. Last year ACC implemented a new policy that required people subjected to sexual abuse to prove they had suffered a mental injury before they would pay for counselling.
I cannot think of a worse ordeal for anyone who has endured the life-changing crisis of sexual abuse, to have to then prove that it had affected their mental health and wellbeing. And so I am not at all surprised that when the Clinical Review Panel looked into the impact of the policy changes, they found that only half as many victims of sexual assault are applying for ACC support this year compared to last. But if that is not bad enough, many who do apply are declined or face significant delays in getting support. Fliss Newtown's comments in this newspaper over the weekend that she is receiving two new enquiries a week from sexual abuse survivors is consistent with other reports I have received over the motu.
A World Health Organisation study in 2007, found that one in four New Zealand girls is sexually abused before the age of fifteen, the highest rate of any country studied. The rate is even higher for Maori women and for women with disabilities. And yet despite the high rates of prevalence, sexual abuse is still something that society fails to recognise as being significant.
Sexual abuse has devastating impacts on the lives of far too many New Zealanders. It decimates your confidence, it can destroy your faith and trust in others, it literally throws your life out of balance. Childhood sexual abuse has been shown to effect educational chances; the impacts are played out in courtrooms and prison cells and hospital beds and drug and alcohol treatment units and psychiatric institutions.
I am pleased that ACC has recognised the importance of providing immediate support for sexual abuse survivors but we cannot put all the responsibility on Government agencies to fix this problem. Quite simply ACC is the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.
Of course Government must ensure we have quality services available and effective programmes to provide immediate support for individuals and whanau dealing with sexual abuse. But most importantly we have to look in our own backyard and be sure that we are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our own family and community. It is unacceptable to know that sexual abuse is going on and to do nothing about it.
I know that for families facing this issue, the road to creating a safe environment is long and fraught with so many challenges. But we must mobilise public support and attention to ensure we bring it out into the open. As they say, sunlight is the best disinfectant. The bright light of scrutiny and openness enables all of us the opportunity for change.

© 2010 Maori Party
http://www.maoriparty.org/index.php?pag=nw&id=1216&p=beehive-chat-sunlight-is-the-best-disinfectant-hon-tariana-turia.html

16 August 2010

Reversal welcome - but still damaging

An editorial from the Nelson Mail

Even ACC Minister Nick Smith acknowledges the corporation mishandled the issue of counselling for sexual abuse victims.
That under-represents the situation considerably, though in terms of ministerial slapdowns it's refreshingly sharp. Perhaps Dr Smith ought to have given his own wrist a slapping while he was at it.
Certainly, the minister and the ACC board were both given plenty of warning that the cutbacks in counselling for rape and sexual abuse victims were potentially damaging. They appeared hell-bent on proceeding with the changes regardless, and brought them in last October. Now, just 10 months later, that decision has been all-but reversed.
Dr Smith is spinning the flip-flop as evidence that ACC is prepared to listen, and then act decisively. If only it were prepared to do so last year.
It is all-but impossible to gauge how much damage might have been done during the short life of the quickly discredited policy change. However, it seems a fair assumption that the about-face has been ordered because of overwhelming evidence that ACC's enthusiasm to trim the flab from its operation had instead nicked the arteries of a vital service.
With the announcement came news that people with a new claim, or an existing one that had been stalled within a dysfunctional system, could – as of this week – access up to 16 hours with a counsellor. That the corporation felt the need to move immediately by way of this interim step can be seen as an acknowledgement that in getting things so badly wrong, it needed to act promptly in order to minimise the damage. Indeed, it seems to have moved so quickly that counsellors late last week were still waiting for vital details on how the system would now work.
Perhaps there are some who continue to see counselling as an unnecessary luxury in tough times, and last year's campaign against the signalled cutbacks as being led by those with a vested interest. Yes, the protests were spearheaded by counsellors, along with members of the public who had benefited from the service. However, it is only natural that those closest to a service see most closely its value.
The tipping point for the minister was almost certainly the advice from an independent panel, appointed by Dr Smith to review the process. Clearly, the panel found itself somewhere between being disturbed and alarmed by what it found.
According to Rape Prevention Education director Kim McGregor, some victims of sexual violence – and the ACC parsimony over the past 10 months – would have become suicidal and harmed themselves as a result of the policy.
It is worth remembering that drives for greater efficiency, wherever they occur, inevitably have consequences with a human face. Some kudos, then, to the minister for setting up the panel and acting decisively on its advice. It is easy to be wise after the event but much more effective to act wisely beforehand. Critics of the minister's ACC efficiency drive have every right to point out that the warning bells rang long and hard last year, and ask hard questions about why they were not heard then.

© 2010 Fairfax New Zealand Ltd
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/opinion/editorial/4028417/Editorial-Reversal-welcome-but-still-damaging

Question for written answer

25231 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Has the Minister or his Officials met with any of the oral submitters to the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims, if so, who and on what date?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: The Clinical Review of the Sensitive Claims Clinical Pathway is an independent process undertaken by an independent panel. Consequently, specific details relating to oral submitters are a matter for the review panel.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/a/6/b/QWA_25231_2010-25231-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

14 August 2010

A needed correction

An editorial from the Southland Times

A storm of reproach has rightly prevailed and ACC's shabby cutback of sexual abuse counselling has been reversed, writes The Southland Times in an editorial.
The idea that only victims with a diagnosed mental injury resulting from sexual abuse or assault should be covered for the counselling drew compelling criticisms from victim advocates. These simply could not be rejected as the self-serving whines of vested interest groups. Rather, they were an emphatic message from seasoned clinicians and were endorsed by an independent panel appointed by minister Nick Smith.
ACC portrays the backdown as, in effect, evidence that it can listen and react to a strong case. Dr Smith, to some extent, can portray it as a case of him intervening usefully.
It's arguable that some encouragement can be taken from this for the southern campaign against the proposal to strip Dunedin of its neurosurgery unit, which is also at the "minister's panel" stage. Certainly the case is no less strong.
What we now have, with ACC, is a stopgap provision by which up to 16 hours' counselling will be available for victims of rape and other sexual abuse "sensitive claims". The panel's final report isn't due to be released until the middle of next month and something more permanent may result from that. Popular opinion is that it better.
This doesn't exactly take the heat off Dr Smith, however. He says he was concerned when he saw an increase in claims being turned down and that the Government had not asked for cuts in the sensitive claims area. Of course it hadn't. Governments hardly ever do anything as plain as saying "do less for victims of sexual abuse".
What they do, as many a health board can attest, is make more generalised requirements for funding cutbacks that leave the boards to make the sharply focused decisions like this, and then cop the criticisms.
In cases such as this, the Government gets to wade in like this and insist that, well, obviously, this wasn't what it had in mind. There really is a short distance politically, from an instruction that is no more detailed than the ridiculously generalised Nike slogan – "just do it" – to the outraged specificity of a "you did what"? And sure enough, Dr Smith says ACC handled this matter badly.
Now opposition parties, notably the Greens, are fully entitled to say other changes that ACC has made should also be given pointy scrutiny by independent reviews.
Such reviews would be rather spoilt for choice. Not so much the decision to push the date by which ACC is fully funded back five years to 2019, which is widely accepted as sensible, but sore changes to the work assessment regime, the diminished entitlements for seasonal workers and the tougher standards before people can get hearing aids. Less likely, purely for populist reasons, is that there will be a revisitation of the decision taking away compensations for criminals in jail.
But surely there can be a rethink of the notion that the families of suicide victims might need ACC help. Given, as we have lately been reminded by the Chief Coroner, that the suicide rate is far worse than the road toll, it doesn't take much of an imaginative leap to see a real need, if not in all cases, then certainly a substantial number, for some practical assistance to be given. And by the State.
The suspicion that ACC is being privatised by stealth still lingers.

13 August 2010

Questions for written answer

25126 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of sensitive claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for claims decision and duplicate, by region for December 2009?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/7/a/4/QWA_25126_2010-25126-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25127 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of sensitive claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for claims decision and duplicate, by region for January 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/7/9/f/QWA_25127_2010-25127-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25128 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of sensitive claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for claims decision and duplicate, by region for February 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/6/5/3/QWA_25128_2010-25128-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25129 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of sensitive claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for claims decision and duplicate, by region for November 2009?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 23084 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/8/f/5/QWA_25129_2010-25129-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25183 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Will the Minister make the final costs of the Sensitive Claims review panel public, and when?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: The final costs of the Sensitive Claims Review will be a matter of public record but I have made no decision about when this information would be released publicly.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/6/6/0/QWA_25183_2010-25183-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25184 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: How many oral submissions, if any, did the Independent Clinical Review group of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims receive, by date and title?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I understand that the panel met with 32 organisations and approximately 50 sexual abuse survivors. The panel would need to respond to the questions relating to titles and dates of the submissions.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/1/b/0/QWA_25184_2010-25184-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

Clinical psychologist believes ACC changes may not be enough

A news report from Channel 9

Six weeks ago 9 Local News aired a story that involved a local clinical psychologist voicing her concerns about the way ACC was handling sensitive claims, which relate to victims of sexual abuse.
This week ACC Minister Nick Smith has admitted that ACC was handling sensitive claims badly, and has put in place new access to counselling. However the same clinical psychologist we spoke to in June believes the changes are not enough to rectify the ongoing issue.

Counsellor welcomes ACC rethink on abuse

An article from the Wanganui Chronicle by Laurel Stowell

A partial back-track by ACC on treatment for people who have been sexually abused is a step towards a more compassionate system - but not a fix, Wanganui counsellor Fliss Newton says.
In September last year ACC moved to a new treatment pathway, requiring proof that people who had been raped or otherwise sexually abused had suffered a "mental injury" before it would pay for their counselling. Before that Ms Newton, an ACC accredited counsellor, saw about five people a week who had been sexually abused, and she had about two new inquiries a week.
Since then ACC has offered counselling to many fewer people. Ms Newton has been seeing one such client a week, and others doing similar work in the city have also had drastically reduced numbers.
Yesterday ACC announced it would offer 16 hours counselling to people who had been sexually abused while they were waiting to see if their claims would be accepted.
Ms Newton said the 16 hours would help to relieve their pain and anxiety as they waited, often for many months, unsure where else to get help. And for some, 16 hours' counselling would be all they needed. "In my 20 years of doing this work I have had two clients that have needed really long-term help. One went to over 100 hours, but 80 per cent would get through in 16 to 20 sessions."
She still didn't like the new treatment pathway. "However, this is a good stop gap, I suppose."
Te Tai Hauauru MP Tariana Turia also welcomed the decision to give people who have been sexually abused 16 hours' free counselling while their ACC claims were being dealt with. "Everyone who has experienced sexual abuse has a right to basic support regardless of whether or not their claims stack up to ACC's criteria for sensitive claims, so I am pleased to see that the corporation has realised this."
Current statistics showed approximately one in four New Zealand girls were sexually abused, and the rate was even higher for Maori women and those with disabilities.
Despite the prevalence of sexual abuse, it was still something that society failed to recognise as being a devastating influence on far too many New Zealanders, she said.

© APN News & Media Ltd 2010
http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/have-your-say/news/counsellor-welcomes-acc-rethink-on-abuse/3919218/

Abuse funding angers

An article from the Nelson Mail

The Accident Compensation Corporation's (ACC) handling of funding of support for survivors of sexual abuse has been disastrous, says Nelson psychotherapist Susan Hawthorne.
ACC has backed down on funding cuts and will provide extra support to survivors of sexual abuse. Last October, it cut counselling for victims of rape and other sexual abuse "sensitive claims", and funding was restricted to those with a diagnosed mental injury resulting from sexual abuse or assault, sparking protests from sexual abuse groups.
However, Ms Hawthorne was unimpressed with the way ACC had failed to communicate with those working in the area of sexual abuse treatment and said today they still did not know the details about who could put in claims.
Yesterday ACC announced that from next week people with a new ACC sensitive claim, or with a new claim already in the system but awaiting a decision, would be able to access up to 16 hours with a counsellor.
"ACC has listened to concerns expressed by several groups that more support is needed. Those groups included the public, the sexual abuse treatment sector, and the independent panel appointed by the minister to review the sensitive claims pathway," said ACC's general manager of claims management, Denise Cosgrove.
Ms Hawthorne said the changes had come about because an independent review panel had been appalled at what had happened. "If we had been asked what improvements could be made, we could have helped without causing the terrible harm for clients. The only way some of them have come through is because people involved in treatment have contributed hours of unpaid work."
Ms Cosgrove said the 16 hours counselling should be sufficient to meet the needs of many people, who would not need further ACC cover or ACC-funded treatment. The sessions would be used to gather information on a cover decision for those who did demonstrate signs of a possible mental injury arising from sexual abuse. Details are yet to be finalised, such as what special arrangements might be put in place for children and what support will be available for people who have suffered a relapse, or whose sensitive claims have previously been declined or reactivated.
ACC acknowledged that last year's cuts "exposed gaps in the services available to people who have suffered sexual abuse", Ms Cosgrove said. "We will continue to develop the sensitive claims process, and will take into account the views of the sector, the final report of the independent panel and the cross-government work being carried out after the recent findings of the Taskforce on Sexual Violence."
Rape Prevention Education director Kim McGregor said more than 16 hours was needed in many cases, but it was an "extremely welcome" move. Last year's cutback had affected survivors of sexual violence. Some would have become suicidal, harmed themselves or closed down and put up with whatever they were dealing with for another 10 years, she said.

ACC rape counselling backdown

A blog entry from Tumeke! by Bomber Bradbury

Congratulations to all the amazing women impacted by this unnecessarily cruel policy who were brave enough to stand up against this despicable decision that denied sexual assault victims any counselling because the Government offensively redefined rape as an 'acute event' as opposed to a mental illness and as such didn't require counselling. This new definition was used to turn down 90% of claims, it was a disgustingly cruel piece of policy and the Government have done the right thing by backing down and offering 16 hours counselling, this is still a weak amount of time to give sexual assault victims, but it is many times better than the system National implemented.

Click here to read more.

ACC about-turn for victims

An article from the Taranaki Daily News by Lyn Humphreys

Sexual abuse counsellor Bob Stevens says ACC has acknowledged a travesty of justice in announcing immediate reinstatement of counselling for victims.
From Monday, ACC's about-turn will give claimants 16 hours of counselling "to ensure their safety and wellbeing", spokeswoman Denise Cosgrove, of Wellington, said.
"The feedback I've had has been positive," Mr Stevens, New Plymouth, said yesterday. "It's a small victory for common sense over bloody-mindedness – but at what expense for the anguish and misery it has caused victims."
The decision appears to have come from pressure from the ACC Sensitive Claims Clinical Review Panel. The review panel was put in place by ACC Minister Nick Smith to look into ACC's methods of dealing with sexual abuse claimants after he was made aware of the large drop in claims since October when the tougher measures were put in place. The panel was to report to the minister last month but has asked for an extension until next month.
In a statement, review panel chairwoman Dr Barbara Disley said ACC's decision this week went part way to addressing the panel's concerns. The panel had met with the minister in early July telling him they were concerned that only half as many victims of sexual assault were applying for ACC support this year compared to last, Dr Disley said. "And many who do apply are declined or face significant delays in getting support," she said.
"ACC's changes mean that from next week new victims or those with a new claim already in the system but awaiting a decision will be eligible to get immediate support and this begins to address the panel's concerns," Dr Disley said.
The panel would make no further comment and was to present its report next month, Dr Disley said.
Since October, ACC has required sexual abuse victims to be diagnosed with a psychiatric illness caused by the abuse. The hard line was met with an outcry from Mr Stevens and others speaking out on behalf of sexual abuse victims across the country. It has led to led to hundreds either not filing claims or being left in limbo waiting for decisions to be made. At least one woman is suspected to have taken her own life.
Last year an angered Mr Stevens threatened to return his QSM, awarded for work with abuse victims. Mr Stevens said ACC was wrong not to have first trialled the new system with a small number of people instead of causing misery to hundreds by running over everyone's advice.

Rejected claims miss out in u-turn

An article from the New Zealand Herald by Derek Cheng

The partial u-turn by ACC on paying for counselling for victims of sexual abuse will not help those who have had their ACC claims declined since guidelines were tightened last October.
ACC this week admitted that changes last October to rules covering "sensitive claims" had exposed gaps.
From Monday, people making new claims of sexual abuse or waiting for a decision on a claim would have automatic access to 16 one-hour sessions of ACC-funded counselling. Since the changes in October, about 2500 claims have been lodged. About 300 have been approved, 1200 declined, and the rest are still awaiting a decision.
ACC Minister Nick Smith said the changes, which restricted funding to those with a diagnosed mental injury resulting from sexual abuse, had caused an unacceptable delay in processing claims.
He said it was unsure if it had led to claims being improperly declined, but he would wait for the final report of an independent clinical panel before considering inviting those who had their claims rejected to reapply. "The difficulty has been the time it's taken to be able to get the diagnosis, and the damage that has done in the time it has taken to get to that diagnosis," Dr Smith said. "The number of sensitive claims declined by ACC is quite small. The lion's share has been where there has been no decision."
The extra counselling is an interim solution that will remain in operation at least until the panel presents its final report in mid-September. It has been applauded by victims' rights and rape prevention groups, as well as the Human Rights Commission, which said it was pleased that ACC had responded to concerns.
"The cuts to costs of treatment for sexual abuse 'sensitive claims' has put considerable pressure on victims and increased their fears and anxiety," said Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Judy McGregor. She said it remained to be seen if the 16 hours would be enough for victims who suffered child sexual abuse or more than one sexual assault.
Dr Smith said ACC had handled the issue poorly. "There are some lessons for them to learn. I will await making a final judgment until I get the full report from the panel."
Labour's ACC spokesman David Parker said the cuts had led to a 90 per cent reduction in ACC-approved counselling for victims of sexual crime. "The minister was repeatedly and clearly warned, by clinicians and the Labour Party, that his changes were so obviously wrong. His attempt to blame this all on the ACC board should not be accepted.
"Why have a minister if he will not take responsibility in the face of prior warnings?" Parker said.

Rule change

Since October ACC-funded counselling for "sensitive claims" (victims of sexual abuse) has been approved only if the claimant was diagnosed with a mental injury resulting from the abuse.

This week, ACC said it would pay for 16 one-hour counselling sessions for all "sensitive claims" and existing ones awaiting a decision, regardless of entitlement.

ACC Minister Nick Smith says the problem was the delay in making the diagnosis, not that claims were wrongly declined.

12 August 2010

Questions for written answer

24964 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of sensitive claims that were lodged, and how many did ACC approve and decline in November and December 2009 and January and February 2010, by region ?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to the attached table which shows all new sensitive claims lodged with ACC from 1 November 2009 to 31 July 2010, by region of injury, and the claim's current decision status as at 7 August 2010.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/d/6/9/QWA_24964_2010-24964-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25065 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: When is the Minister expecting to announce the Government’s response to the outcome of the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: My decision on when to announce the Government’s response will be made after receiving the Independent Clinical Review’s report, which is due on 10 September 2010.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/2/6/b/QWA_25065_2010-25065-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25066 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Has the Minister discussed the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims with any of his Ministerial colleagues, if so who and on what dates?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I am yet to receive the final report from the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/2/6/2/QWA_25066_2010-25066-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25067 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Has the Minister discussed the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims with any of his parliamentary colleagues, if so who and on what dates?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 25066 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/5/0/f/QWA_25067_2010-25067-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25068 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Has the Minister sought any advice from Crown Law on the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 25066 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/9/0/a/QWA_25068_2010-25068-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25069 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What was the total cost for the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: The total cost will not be known until the review is completed.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/6/e/1/QWA_25069_2010-25069-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25070 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What is the total cost to date for the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I am advised that the total cost to date for the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims is $168,238.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/f/0/f/QWA_25070_2010-25070-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25071 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What was the total cost of production of the report of the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 25069 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/f/b/5/QWA_25071_2010-25071-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25072 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Does the Minister have confidence in all members of the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims, if so why, if not why not?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I have confidence in the members of this panel because they have the range of skills, experience and expertise required.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/7/8/3/QWA_25072_2010-25072-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25073 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What is the deadline date for the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: The report from the Independent Clinical Review Panel is expected to be completed by September 2010.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/4/4/6/QWA_25073_2010-25073-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25074 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: If the report for the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims recommends returning to the previous system, will the Minister support this outcome?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I will consider the advice when I receive the final report.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/8/9/e/QWA_25074_2010-25074-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25075 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Can the Minister provide an update of the status of the report of the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: The Independent Clinical Review Panel continues to work towards completing its report by September 2010.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/9/4/8/QWA_25075_2010-25075-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25076 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: Can the Minister advise when the report of the Independent Clinical Review of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims will be available?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: The report will be available to me by 10 September 2010.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/a/f/a/QWA_25076_2010-25076-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25077 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: How many, if any, written submissions did the Independent Clinical Review group of the New Treatment Pathway for Sensitive Claims receive, by date and title?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I understand that the panel received 177 written submissions. The panel would need to respond to the questions relating to titles and dates of the submissions.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/f/4/1/QWA_25077_2010-25077-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25078 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for March 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/c/8/7/QWA_25078_2010-25078-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25079 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for April 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/2/e/6/QWA_25079_2010-25079-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25080 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for May 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/e/d/c/QWA_25080_2010-25080-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25081 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for June 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/c/b/7/QWA_25081_2010-25081-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25082 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the numbers of Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for July 2010?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/6/9/3/QWA_25082_2010-25082-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25083 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers for the how many Sensitive Claims were lodged, and how many did ACC approve and decline in March, April and May 2010, by region?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 25078, 25079, 25080, (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/f/e/4/QWA_25083_2010-25083-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

25084 (2010). Lynne Pillay to the Minister for ACC: What are the updated numbers for the Sensitive Claims, lodged, accepted, declined, awaiting external information, under assessment by ACC for Claims decision and duplicate, by region for November 2009
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: I refer the Member to my answer to Parliamentary Question for Written Answer 24964 (2010).
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/1/0/0/QWA_25084_2010-25084-2010-Lynne-Pillay-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

ACC reverses sex abuse decision

A news report from the NZPA

Victim advocates are relieved to see a reversal by ACC on its decision to cut funding for sexual abuse counselling, but the Greens say independent reviews should also follow other changes the Crown organisation has made.
Last October ACC cut counselling for victims of rape and other sexual abuse "sensitive claims", and funding was restricted to those with a diagnosed mental injury resulting from sexual abuse or assault, sparking outrage and protests from victim advocates. But it back-tracked yesterday and said from next week people with a new ACC sensitive claim, or with a new claim already in the system but awaiting a decision, would be able to access up to 16 hours with a counsellor.
ACC said the decision was made after concerns were expressed and followed advice from an independent panel appointed by ACC Minister Nick Smith to review the sensitive claims pathway in light of advice he had got from clinicians.
Dr Smith said the 16 hours was an interim provision, and a long-term plan would be made after the final report from the panel was released in mid-September. He said while he had been careful not to interfere with what was a clinical matter, he didn't think ACC had managed the issue well.
The Mental Health Foundation, Human Rights Commission and National Council of Women NZ (NCWNZ) all expressed relief over the u-turn today, although the organisations have raised questions as to whether the 16 hours will be enough for some victims.
NCWNZ national president Elizabeth Bang said the situation showed how critical it was to test new policy approaches before rolling them out. She said savings made during the nine month "experiment" would no doubt be spent on an envisaged influx of claimants. "Again, ACC will need to ensure they have sufficient staff on deck to manage the opening of the flood-gates," Ms Bang said.
Green Party ACC spokesman Kevin Hague said the u-turn "strongly suggested" that all changes ACC has made to its cover, entitlements and assessment criteria needed to be independently reviewed. "An independent review is needed to ensure ACC is doing its job and not causing re-victimisation of accident victims," Mr Hague said. He said Dr Smith had introduced other changes to ACC over the past two years which were not supported by evidence.
Labour's ACC spokesman David Parker said it was unacceptable that Dr Smith was pointing the finger at the ACC board over the sexual abuse funding issue. "The minister was repeatedly and clearly warned by clinicians and the Labour Party that his changes were so obviously wrong. Why have a minister if he will not take responsibility in the face of prior warnings?"

Reversal of ACC funding cuts for abuse victims

A press release from the Mental Health Foundation

The Mental Health Foundation welcomes Accident Compensation Corporation’s (ACC) decision to provide extra support to survivors of sexual abuse.
Since last October – when ACC cut counselling for victims of rape and other sexual abuse ‘sensitive’ claims, and funding was restricted to those with a diagnosed mental injury resulting from sexual abuse or assault – the Foundation has received many enquiries expressing concern about the negative impact on people’s mental health of this decision.
From Monday, people with a new ACC sensitive claim, or with a new claim already in the system but awaiting a decision, will be able to access up to 16 hours with a counsellor.
“For many people who have survived sexual abuse, counselling is a lifeline and taking it away left many vulnerable people with nowhere else to turn,” says Judi Clements, Mental Health Foundation Chief Executive. “Some people will need more than 16 hours counselling, but it’s great news that ACC has listened to the concerns from various groups including survivors of sexual abuse, mental health organisations, sexual abuse counsellors and the general public.”
“We applaud their decision,” says Ms Clements.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1008/S00147/reversal-of-acc-funding-cuts-for-abuse-victims.htm

ACC funding cuts for sex victims reversed

A news report from TVNZ - click here to view

A massive public backlash from survivors of sexual abuse, and health professionals, has forced an about-turn on ACC cuts brought in last year.
The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has backed down on its changes and will now provide abuse victims with extra support.
Last October, ACC slashed counselling for people with "sensitive claims" - victims of rape and other sexual abuse. Funding was restricted to those with a diagnosed mental injury resulting from sexual abuse or assault, sparking outrage and protests from sexual abuse groups. To get support, victims of sexual abuse had to undergo an extra psychiatric assessment to prove they had a mental injury.
ONE News spoke to one abuse victim who failed the psychiatric assessment and says it brought back all the bad memories. "I have not had a chance to move forward because I have been so re-traumatised with having to deal with the system that I haven't been dealing with my abusive past," he said.
ACC's general manager of claims, Denise Cosgrove, said the organisation had listened to the people affected. "Those groups included the public, the sexual abuse treatment sector, and the independent panel appointed by the minister to review the sensitive claims pathway," she said.
From next week people with a new ACC sensitive claim, or with a claim already in the system but awaiting a decision, will be able to access up to 16 hours with a counsellor, without having to prove mental injury.
Cosgrove said those hours should be sufficient to meet the needs of many people, who would not need further ACC cover or ACC-funded treatment. She acknowledged last year's cuts "exposed gaps in the services available to people who have suffered sexual abuse".
But our victim, who didn't want to be identified, said 16 hours of counselling is still inadequate. "Sixteen hours will never be enough, it's not time enough for people to feel comfortable with disclosing their sexual abuse past," he said.
A number of details to the ACC changes are yet to be finalised, such as special arrangements for children, and what support will be available for people who have suffered a relapse, or whose sensitive claims have previously been declined.
Since the introduction of psychiatric assessments in November, ACC says 2503 applications for counselling have been lodged. Only 304 have been approved and 1188 declined, and the rest are being assessed.

The ACC Minister admits changes to the handling of counselling for sexual abuse victims were not handled well and that's led to some people missing out on help. Leilani Momoisea speaks to ACC Minister Nick Smith, Counsellors' Association representative Elayne Johnston and Kathryn McPhillips. Click here to listen.

Copyright © 2010 Radio New Zealand

NCWNZ welcomes ACC announcement but still cautious

A press release from the National Council of Women

The announcement by ACC, that it will provide immediate relief to new and yet unapproved sexual abuse survivors, has come as a relief to the National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ).
“We cannot state enough just how critical it is that new policy approaches are tested before being rolled out,” says Elizabeth Bang, NCWNZ National President. “A pilot for the ACC clinical pathway should have been undertaken, and the opportunity for culturally appropriate consultation promoted and supported by ACC.”
NCWNZ is aware that ACC is actively taking steps to begin addressing the other issues associated with the clinical pathway and some providers have been contacted regarding their participation.
“In the long-run, the savings that have been made during this nine-month experiment, will undoubtedly be expended as ACC injects funding through to assist, what we envisage will be an influx in claimants,” says Elizabeth Bang. “Again, ACC will need to ensure they have sufficient staff on deck to manage the opening of the flood-gates.”
The most important test of how effective consumers and providers were in their consultations with the ACC Independent Review Panel will be determined by what has been captured in the final report to the Minister of ACC.
“Once the report is made public and the Minister of ACC, and ACC itself, have responded to the report’s recommendations, then we will know what work is left to do to ensure the current discrimination has been dealt with,” concludes Elizabeth Bang.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1008/S00146/ncwnz-welcomes-acc-announcement-but-still-cautious.htm

Commission welcomes support for sex abuse victims

A press release from the Human Rights Commission

The Human Rights Commission welcomes ACC’s decision announced today to reverse funding cuts and the provision of extra support to sexual abuse victims.
“The cuts to costs of treatment for sexual abuse ‘sensitive claims’ has put considerable pressure on victims and increased their fears and anxiety,” said Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Dr Judy McGregor.
From Monday, 16 August, people with a new sensitive claim related to sexual abuse or sexual assault and those whose claim is awaiting a decision will be able to have up to 16 hours with a counsellor funded by the ACC.
Dr McGregor said it remained to be established whether this was sufficient for sensitive cases such as those who had suffered child sexual abuse or more than one sexual assault.
The Commission was strongly opposed to the cuts at the time they were made and said that the delays in gaining approval from ACC for assistance to partially meet the costs of treatment “had been alarmingly protracted”.
The Commission welcomed the fact that ACC has listened to the concerns expressed by several groups.
When changes were made recently to ACC legislation, the Commission expressed concern to the Select Committee about the proposed cuts to be made by regulation.
The Commission said counselling for people who had been sexually abused or assaulted should be fully funded by ACC and the cost of services should not be a barrier to access. The cuts placed considerable stress on a very vulnerable group and delayed their recovery and integration back into society and employment.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1008/S00143/commission-welcomes-support-for-sex-abuse-victims.htm

Independent review of ACC changes needed

A press release from the Green Party

The urgent u-turn on sexual abuse counselling strongly suggests that all changes ACC has made to its cover, entitlements, and assessment criteria need to be independently reviewed, the Green Party said today.
“An independent review of the changes is needed to ensure ACC is doing its job and not causing re-victimisation of accident victims,” Green Party ACC spokesperson Kevin Hague said. “The changes made to ACC’s sexual abuse assessment procedures are the first to be assessed independently. The review confirmed the changes were a disaster."
Since late 2008 ACC Minister Nick Smith has introduced many other wide-ranging changes to ACC cover, entitlements and assessment criteria. These include narrowing the criteria for approving surgery, restrictions on cover for hearing loss and work-related gradual process injuries, and widening the vocational independence assessment criteria under which ACC decides to stop paying claimants weekly compensation.
“Like the sexual abuse counselling changes that have now been partially reversed, many of these were not supported by any evidence,” Mr Hague said. “For example, a series of written questions to Dr Smith made it clear he had no idea how many vocational independence assessments were being made and no data around how many people were being refused compensation.
“This tinkering has resulted in many New Zealanders being denied treatment, surgery or counselling that they previously would have received under ACC. We need to apply the same scrutiny to the other changes.”
Mr Hague said that lowering costs to ACC raised the costs on an already overburdened public health system. “Accident victims and their families are not receiving the treatment they need. The ACC model guarantees the essentials and is the envy of the Western world. By changing the procedures we risk decades of successful accident practice being thrown out the window.”

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1008/S00200/independent-review-of-acc-changes-needed.htm

ACC backdown over counselling pleases

An article from the Marlborough Express by Penny Wardle

Blenheim counsellor Lizzie Fulton is delighted the Accident Compensation Corporation has backed down on its decision to make sexual abuse victims wait for a psychologist's assessment before starting counselling.
ACC announced yesterday that sexual abuse victims could immediately get up to 16 hours with a counsellor. This reversed guidelines released last year that focused treatment only on sexual abuse victims with a diagnosed mental injury.
Ms Fulton says it is possible ACC's change of heart might have more to do with a national shortage of psychologists to carry out the diagnosis than sympathy for sexual abuse victims.
She was certain that many victims disappeared off the radar while waiting for help. She had clients who were no longer contactable, having requested sexual abuse counselling last year. People who were not functioning well sometimes could not afford phones, she said. "People often take a long time to come forward asking for help, because their lives are in such a mess, she said. "Something in them says, `I can't continue like this'."
Email networks between ACC sexual abuse counsellors suggested it was not uncommon for people to wait up to six months for help. ACC had promised children would be fast-tracked, but Ms Fulton said there was a backlog of sexually abused children who had been waiting for three or four months for help.
For many sexual abuse victims, 16 counselling sessions would be enough, but she wanted to know what would happen for those who needed longer-term help. Some severely affected clients had required 50 or 60 sessions before they could live with the trauma of their abuse, she said.
"Abuse is the outcome of crime," said Ms Fulton. "There are people with mental health problems who might require a lifetime of treatment. If sexual abuse victims require long-term help, why should that not be available under ACC?"
The requirement for a mental health diagnosis to access treatment had discouraged victims from seeking help because of the stigma attached, she said. Some did not want to see a psychologist or psychologist.
The Marlborough Express understands that only one psychologist working part-time was available for this work in Marlborough.

© 2010 Fairfax New Zealand Ltd
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/4016877/ACC-backdown-over-counselling-pleases

ACC sex abuse claims 'badly handled'

A news report from the NZPA

ACC has handled the issue of counselling for sexual abuse victims badly, ACC Minister Nick Smith says.
Last October ACC cut counselling for victims of rape and other sexual abuse "sensitive claims", and funding was restricted to those with a diagnosed mental injury resulting from sexual abuse or assault, sparking outrage and protests from sexual abuse groups. But yesterday it announced that from next week people with a new ACC sensitive claim, or with a new claim already in the system but awaiting a decision, would be able to access up to 16 hours with a counsellor.
Dr Smith said the provision of 16 hours was an interim provision and a long term plan would be made after the final report from the independent clinical panel was released in mid-September.
The panel was set up by Dr Smith following concern about the cuts being made. "It was my decision to set up the independent clinical panel when it was plain that a substantive number of clinicians working in this area believed ACC had it wrong," he said.
Dr Smith said while he had been careful not to interfere with what was a clinical matter he did not think ACC had managed the issue well. The Government had not asked for cuts in the sensitive claims area and Dr Smith was concerned when he saw an increase in claims being turned down.
The panel recommended that 16 initial sessions were required immediately and ACC took that on board. "This gap that had developed needed to be addressed urgently and that is why ACC decided to step in and provide the 16 sessions as quickly as possible from next Monday while the panel completes its full report and we can make long-term decisions."
There were lessons for ACC about its consultation with the sector, Dr Smith said. "Because I don't think that has been satisfactory."
ACC's general manager of claims management Denise Cosgrove said ACC had listened to concerns expressed.
A number of details are yet to be finalised, such as what special arrangements might be put in place for children and what support will be available for people who have suffered a relapse, or whose sensitive claims have previously been declined or reactivated.
ACC acknowledged last year's cuts "exposed gaps in the services available to people who have suffered sexual abuse," Ms Cosgrove said. "We will be continuing to develop the sensitive claims process, and will take into account the views of the sector, the final report of the independent panel and the cross-government work being carried out following the recent findings of the Taskforce on Sexual Violence."
Labour's ACC spokesman David Parker said Dr Smith's attempts to blame the ACC board should not be accepted. "The minister was repeatedly and clearly warned by clinicians and the Labour Party that his changes were so obviously wrong. Why have a minister if he will not take responsibility in the face of prior warnings?"