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ACC cuts deliberately cynical - Labour

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Tue, 12 Jul 2011 5:35a.m.

ACC Minister Nick Smith (file)

ACC Minister Nick Smith (file)

Labour's accusing the government of going 'far too far' in cutting ACC entitlements so it can afford to lower levies.

ACC Minister Nick Smith's announced proposed changes that will see employers and workers pay $ 500 billion less from next April.

He says the scheme's been used as a private insurer, and is paying out for claims which are not accident-related.

Labour's Chris Hipkins agrees there are some areas that needed tightening up, but says the Government's slashed entitlements, not the cost to Kiwis.

He believes announcing the levy cut now is a cynical election ploy by National.

Business New Zealand Chief Executive Phil O'Reilly wants the changes locked in, saying employers had been losing faith in the scheme.

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Comments

19 Jul 2011 06:44p.m.

JIM wrote:

shut up chris you are a moron .

12 Jul 2011 02:28p.m.

Kim wrote:

No David they just pushed the cost onto the public health system..no savings just a reshuffle, which results in longer waiting times and because of this it very often increases costs to the taxpayer.

12 Jul 2011 12:17p.m.

clinton wrote:

Alien,get your facts correct for a change,Neil good on what you have written,I would like to just remind them,when National were in last time some 9 years up to the last elections,those self same people took all the increases etc that labour gave,also during National time in power Simon Upton along with Bill Birch got rid of the main policies of Acc,and Got reintroduced by Labour when they returned to power and it was thriving system being the best in the world,but because it was working so well<National thought that it was time to stuff it up again,Now they are saying that it was not in Debt in arse about face fashion,being typical of the tory govt.

12 Jul 2011 12:14p.m.

Alien wrote:

gee kim, coming from you I know my statement is correct, you are so blindly up the labour that any time you disagree with a person we all know you are just towing the party line and not able to think for yourself.

12 Jul 2011 11:28a.m.

Peter wrote:

Cuts in ACC levies is a bad idea. Because we don't know or understand the fallout from the Christchurch earthquake, and now it seems other natural disasters happening in New Zealand

The public are only saving roughly 170 a year in levies. Considereing that I see no real tangable benefit to the public. Its better to keep the levie at it was so that ACC has anough flesh on its bones to cope with another disaster or any future claims of PTSD from Christchurch. Its far to early to tell for sure what is going to happen here. My fear is that they will tighten up cover for those people.

12 Jul 2011 11:11a.m.

Kim wrote:

@Brent..That was to do with international obligations. @Alien...Well your statement is so stupid i don't really need to say anything @Chris..considering the lies, unjust refusals for treatment and the complete contempt displayed is it any wonder we moan. or are we suppose to be good little sheep and have done to us what aussie farmers have been doing to sheep for years?

12 Jul 2011 11:07a.m.

David Jacobs wrote:

Labour's Chris Hipkins agrees there are some areas that needed tightening up, but says the Government's slashed entitlements, not the cost to Kiwis. Is the reduction in levies not a lowering of cost to Kiwis?

12 Jul 2011 11:05a.m.

ian wrote:

How is it possible ---one moment ACC is sinking in debt,and the Govt is talking about privatising.
The next moment [ in election year ] we can all have substantial rebates."Something smells rotten"

12 Jul 2011 11:04a.m.

Neil wrote:

I don't understand why the government made such a big thing about debt and future liabilities last year and then suddenly they can drop the levy - what's up with that? Hey you guys (Chris, Alien and Brent) keep the party politics out of this....

12 Jul 2011 10:52a.m.

cyril wrote:

They would say that.