May 10, 2024
Injury prevention takes fall in ACC job cuts
Labour deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni says job cuts at the Accident Compensation Commission show the Government ismore interested in tc cus than preventing serious accidents.
The commission intends to she up to 390 of its 4000 staff, including roles in prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety.
Ms Sepuloni says it will have a significant inpact on the quality of services.
“When we want to access ACC we want to be able pick up the phone knowing someone is going to answer and they’re going to responsive and they’re going to be quick. If we see the numbers of staff diminish ther, then that service e is undermined and internationally it’s a renowned scheme and we’re lucky to have it,” she says.
Meanwhile the ACC Futures Coalition says the loss of 29 injury prevention roles is a real worry.
Co-convenor Hazel Armstrong says more than 150,000 people a year claim for injuries that are so severe they need to go on weekly compensation because they can’t work.
She says the focus of ACC must be to reduce this terrible toll of injury, especially in sectors of the economy like construction, agriculture, forestry and manufacturing.