Media release
12 June 2012

ACC- time to rebuild trust

The ACC Futures Coalition today welcomed the announcement that ACC Chair John Judge was stepping down and the call by Minister Collins that ACC must refocus on rebuilding public trust and confidence.

“The resignation of John Judge presents ACC with a real opportunity to rebuild trust in the scheme and in the corporation,” said Hazel Armstrong spokesperson for the ACC Futures Coalition. “While the recent privacy issues have greatly increased the pressure on the leadership of ACC, John Judge was associated more widely with the policy and operational shift towards an insurance model, which has seen many claimants either excluded from the scheme or pushed back into work before they are ready.”

“This corporate approach, together with the privacy issue, has undermined the integrity of the scheme,” said Ms. Armstrong.  “We agree with the Minister that ACC must refocus on rebuilding public trust and confidence, but that is across the
board, not just tightening up on how personal details are managed.”

“Great care needs to be taken in selecting the next chair of ACC,” said Ms. Armstrong. “We need someone of integrity who has a commitment to the scheme as it was originally envisaged, not just another corporate power broker who thinks that they are running an insurance company.”

 ENDS

02:01PM Tuesday, 12 June, 2012