ACC chairman was sacked, opposition says

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ACC chairman was sacked, opposition says

3News NZ

ACC chairman John Judge

ACC chairman John Judge

By Peter Wilson, NZN Political Writer

ACC chairman John Judge was sacked and the Government was right to get rid of him, opposition parties say.

Watch the video to see Green Party ACC spokesperson Kevin Hague speak to Firstline this morning.

They don't accept ACC Minister Judith Collins' assertion that Mr Judge wants to concentrate on his new job as chairman of ANZ National Bank, and decided not to seek another term with the corporation.

It's embroiled in a huge privacy breach scandal and serious allegations about the way it wrongly handled a claim by former National Party activist Bronwyn Pullar.

Mr Judge and chief executive Ralph Stewart have been carrying the can and they've been accused of misleading ministers.

"The Government was right to sack Judge, he had to go, it was untenable for him to remain," Green Party ACC spokesman Kevin Hague said.

Labour's ACC spokesman, Andrew Little, says the Government made a "politically convenient" decision but Ms Collins is still on the hook.

"He was pushed, and the minister hasn't fronted up to take responsibility for the things that have gone wrong," he said.

Ms Collins says Mr Judge's term ended in March this year and he stayed on, with her agreement, until the end of the financial year.

According to Ms Collins he then decided, also with her agreement, not to continue beyond the end of this month.

"There is no suggestion of anything else," she said.

Paula Rebstock, former head of the Commerce Commission, is taking over from Mr Judge in an interim role until a new appointment is made.

NZN

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Comments

14/06/2012 12:00:48 p.m.

Norman Greenland wrote:

Where is the difference between obfuscation and downright dishonesty, and who are we to judge?

13/06/2012 4:02:20 p.m.

RussF wrote:

Looking ahead, do we really expect any greater fairness in ACC attitude and behavior towards ACC claimants under a Paula Rebstock governance, interim or permanent (likely)? As Chairwoman of Social Welfare Minister Paula Bennett's Welfare Working Group Rebstock recommended cutting beneficiary numbers by 100,000 (from 350,000) as a targeted means of saving $1.3 Billion per annum. ACC's current campaign of moving long term ACC beneficiaries onto the Dole (thereby removing their negotiable ability for permanent disability claim settlement and possibly future claim for re-injury of existing disability through work functions not managed by ACC), cannot assist Rebstock's recommended targeted reductions, unless the Social Welfare Minister is party to then shifting these beneficiaries off the Governments books entirely. This adds up to a contrived intergovernmental campaign so don't expect any change to ACC present practices, without some serious public protest forcing change (similar to the response to teacher numbers).

13/06/2012 3:37:52 p.m.

Mandy wrote:

John Judge thankfully is gone...shouldn't Ralph Stewart's capabilities be looked at also, and what's happened with Dr Burgess who repeatedly accessed Bronwyn Pullar's file despite being told to keep away from it? The organisation has major problems which appear to be going from bad to worse. The culture needs changing. ACC was provided in lieu of the right to sue, and now it's a major battle to get what are fair entitlements. It's alarming to see the so called independent ACC specialists giving diagnosises that are very questionable (the fall back "degenerative" diagnosis etc that suit ACC). Good on Bronwyn Pullar for bringing this to the public's attention and for having the foresight to tape that meeting which shows who can be believed.

13/06/2012 2:39:44 p.m.

Greg wrote:

ACC will be a SOE before the end of the month, then National can put the 3billion$ profit into the consolidated fund.
Who wants a bet, box of beer.

13/06/2012 1:02:08 p.m.

ridley wrote:

Would like to know just how much he received of the tax payers money, on the golden hand shake that would have inevitably taken place.

13/06/2012 11:21:37 a.m.

Greg wrote:

Marty, ACC has failed to treat head injury clients for over a decade now.
Rehabilitation into the workplace for clients was non-existent, they failed to plan for even part time re-enrty work. So effectively the head injury patients have been moved onto WINZ and left to their own devices. This practice has been in serious breach of ACCs long winded mission statement, whats fair about it.
Will we get compenstation for breach of said social contract. Ask why the invalids benifit skyrocketed last decade. There should be a inquiry at least, and how much are these independent ACC specialists are getting for removing head injury patients. The systems been rorted from the top not the bottom.
TV three reporters should be looking at how many head injury clients have been moved of ACC books since 2000.

13/06/2012 10:11:22 a.m.

Marty wrote:

ACC has made errors which have on the face of it been very badly handled. However We will still never know about Bronwyn Pullar's medical disposition is and her interactions with ACC. So the story is one sided and the taped interview does not at all appear to mention any bribery or consequences thereof, it just does not marry with the ACC comments.I wonder if the police had access to either the ACC email files or Bronwyn Pullar's computer. That would solve any issues surrounding the ongoing saga that would mean with party is at fault. Regardless of the chairmans resignation or "being sacked" as the Greens keep moaning about there is more to answer to from ACC and Bronwyn Puller. Put up or shut up.

13/06/2012 9:40:23 a.m.

Andrew wrote:

So where does this leave Collins' defamation lawsuit against Mallard and Little(?) over the matter? Quietly brushed under the already bulging carpet?