Collins vows to fix ACC's reputation

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Collins vows to fix ACC's reputation

3News NZ

Judith Collins (Photosport)

Judith Collins (Photosport)

By Peter Wilson, NZN Political Writer

ACC Minister Judith Collins says she's determined to make the corporation more user-friendly.

She's looking for a new chairman, two board members and a chief executive after a series of high-profile resignations this week.

Ms Collins says she didn't sack them but it's clear she didn't want them around as she tries to repair ACC's battered image.

Chairman John Judge, who is leaving at the end of the month, was appointed to cut costs and get people off ACC.

He succeeded, delivering a surplus and raising rehabilitation rates, but there's been a torrent of complaints from claimants about harsh and unfair treatment.

"It's important, for the direction of ACC, that the board shares my vision of where it needs to be," she said on Wednesday.

"I'm looking at how we can make it more user-friendly. There have been issues, unprofessional incidents, privacy breaches... I'm bringing in a lot of change."

Green Party ACC spokesman Kevin Hague says a "culture of disentitlement" has taken hold in ACC since 2009 and it's going to take more than a few resignations to fix it.

"We now have the environment where it's possible to do that, the way is clear for the minister to take the lead," he said.

Labour doesn't have any confidence in Ms Collins and says she must resign.

ACC spokesman Andrew Little says chief executive Ralph Stewart's resignation, announced on Wednesday, was further evidence of "utter chaos" during the minister's watch.

NZN

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Comments

10/09/2012 4:21:47 p.m.

m wrote:

the minister of uselessness shoudl axe herself, her tenure has been notable for nothing

15/06/2012 2:02:22 p.m.

Fighter" wrote:

Hi Mrs Collins, I am deeply concerned regarding your Interview of Campbell Live the other night Re ACC Claimants. Your comments that we should just all back to work, as a a Injured Claimant i feel that you directly need to have have more of a open mind, its not that easy to just get a job when you have serious injuries. Now i have seen your true side, so please now step aside or get this mess sorted out ASAP regarding the really bad culture you have at ACC. Regards

15/06/2012 12:20:02 a.m.

Nancy wrote:

Start the cleanup at ACC with your resignation Ms Collins then the new Minister can start with the attitudes of your senior staff. ACC policy states it will treat all claimants with respect and courtesy. What a load of absolute crap. The dealings with this department has been nothing but stressful and demoralising(and I am only the support person). And those of you who want to ask for an independant review of any decisions that ACC make -don't bother, because here is another 'crock'. Their independant panel consists of people who investigate and listen to only one side of the story - ACC's not yours, believe me.

14/06/2012 9:06:11 p.m.

johnmillan wrote:

Richard,Who stuffed ACC up??? The Nats did when Bill Birch was minister of ACC,He took away peoples rights,Or maybe you were just a little boy then.Yes the rights to sue,introduced a scheme,that was useless as the t---s on a bull.It was not until labour returned to power when Acc became what it was introduced for,For those who got injured and could not work,gave people a monetary assistance for loss of income,reintroduced a lump sum payment scheme,for those who lost limbs etc.Then Smith came along and stuff-d it all up again,took away the hearing entitlements,took away the physio treatment for those injured people.Also made it harder to get a claim through,unless you were a friend of his,that he could write a letter to ACC on a ministerial letter head on your behalf.And you have a very short memory,when the Nats came to power ACC was not in the red as first beleived,and just two years ago they found that it was not in the crap.It was another cover up of this so called Nat party.NAT Not All truthful.

14/06/2012 9:01:34 p.m.

Janine wrote:

What has happened to the two managers who lied claiming that they were threatened by Paula & Bronwyn ? or are they given full paid leave until everyone stops asking questions ?
The abuse,lies and distortion that certain case managers do to long term claimants is hidden and encouraged by certain department managers.The CM's have a free hand to do whatever they please in order to stop a long term claimant receiving ACC.
It's about time that case managers were made responsible for their actions when they have committed fraud (eg illegal altering of client documents ) the case manager should be criminally charged instead of being hidden by ACC and transferred to another branch.
Are the public aware what the KPI's are for ACC employees in order to receive their bonus ??

14/06/2012 5:06:34 p.m.

Cat wrote:

It's not Ms Collins that needs to resign. It's Nick Smith who was party to Brownwen Pullars claim.

14/06/2012 4:27:41 p.m.

Sue wrote:

Judith Collins seems to be a switched on lady and more has happened re prison rehabilitation and getting things done than ever before - it also looks like she has taken appropriate action by cleaning up the ACC Dept; but Bronwyn Puller has a lot to answer for I believe.

14/06/2012 3:50:15 p.m.

chen chun tsu wrote:

ACC was touted as a pioneering social reform, It was a social contract between a caring government and its people. IT was meant to be a more caring alternative to those nasty insurance companies who try to make a profit out of people's helath needs etc. BUT I think there is not many Insurance get away with 3 billion proEGALISSE DAYLIGHT ROBBERY!!

14/06/2012 3:43:16 p.m.

zac wrote:

Fix the problems by what, privatising ACC? Which is always been the national party's policy to sell off the cooperation to their wealthy mates, subsidised by the NZ tax payers.

14/06/2012 3:00:03 p.m.

David wrote:

@Colin, private insurers... really? The very reason ACC was founded and the very reason that we gave up our ability to sue... was so that ACC would provide a better service than private insurers... who like John Key are seedy, money orientated... and will use any excuse possible to get out of paying... act of god, pre existing condition, degenerative condition... act of god. Under John Key ACC have become exactly like a privat insurer... if you think ACC is a mess.. then you havent seen what a private insurer will do or say to get out of paying our on a policy. Businessmen are corrupt... and all about money and the bottom line. Just like John Key... no morals, no emptahy, no compassion.