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Winston Peters wants inquiry into RSA attack case

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Peters calls for RSA attack case inquiry

3News NZ

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters (file)

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters (file)

NZ First leader Winston Peters is calling for a commission of inquiry into the way RSA attack survivor Susan Couch has been treated by ACC.

Ms Couch was left partially paralysed with brain injuries after the December 2001 attack at the Panmure RSA by William Bell, who killed three others.

Bell was on parole and the Corrections Department is paying her $300,000 for exemplary damages after an 11-year court battle, but ACC hasn't given her any compensation because she is on a benefit.

Mr Peters says ACC regulations must be changed so Ms Couch and other victims of serious crimes can be compensated.

"It is outrageous that ACC will not pay compensation to Ms Couch because she is on a social welfare benefit," he said.

"We need a full royal commission of inquiry to assess the failings of ACC in this regard so regulations can be changed."

Mr Peters says "any right-minded person" can see Ms Couch should be entitled to ACC compensation.

Ms Couch sued Corrections for $500,000, claiming Bell wasn't properly supervised by the department.

Her lawyer, Brian Henry, also says she should be compensated by ACC and is campaigning for a law change.

NZN

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Comments

11/01/2013 12:18:44 a.m.

Kelly Thurston wrote:

I agree 100% with Mr Peters,there are many people that dont recieve what they re intitled too as acc are denying the good people their surgery or pay out after long court cases, ther are thousands, and national is a facist hung National john key lead nz government in charge of this discord.

7/12/2012 11:01:32 a.m.

Simon wrote:

Not to take anything away from this case but I think Winston is jumping on this to take attention away from the Brendon Horan debacle not because he is genuinely concerned.

7/12/2012 10:20:48 a.m.

Mike wrote:

Winnie was on the first line of slamming the door in Susans face.

Who was deputy PM back in 2001? He was this ex-National guy, currently NZ first leader, and as much help to Susan then as he has been since, and agains claiming credit for doing nothing!

How far did her claim get in 7 years of Labour lead govt? Zip. We keep hearing National is the unfeeling party, and yet here we have a settlement done under National where Labour/Greens just keep slammming the door in her face.

Which parties were incharge of corrections in 2001, ie partly responsible? Labour/Grreens/NZ First. Have they even given a apology? They keep demanding accountability for ministers for actions not of their own, but with a little thing like murder under their watch, there was nothing but further slamming a door in a victims face.

7/12/2012 8:55:43 a.m.

alison wrote:

I must be ignorant. I thought this was what acc was set up for. Who made it so if you were on a benefit you couldnt get a payout? For goodness sake why has common sense not prevailed here? Its hardly a case where shes rorting the system. Can someone ask Judith Collins why she has been denied?

7/12/2012 8:27:09 a.m.

Ben wrote:

Way to go, Winnie. This little "heart rendering" stunt of yours should get the media off your back regarding Horan. But how long do you think you can fool them with this "Look, I'm a caring, loving person who would never lie" attitude? Oh, well, if You're going to be pushing for a division (I mean enquiry) you had better score yourself another wine box.

7/12/2012 8:23:51 a.m.

Ernst wrote:

There seems to be no shortage of money to settle Treaty claims so why has this poor woman had to fight so much for what she should get as a matter of course?