The (New) Face Of ACC

With the changing of the guard in National (Nick Smith relinquishes ACC to Judith Collins) and the re-election of Carmel Sepuloni in Waitakere, are we to expect a change of fortunes for the under fire ACC?

To put things in perspective about ACC, I know personally four people that have dealings with ACC, three in the Sensitive Claims Unit (SCU).  Now two of that three also have major issues with ACC and the way they do business.  One was sued this year by Dr Peter Jansen, and now another has had problems with ACC faxing out her personal file to three (at least) agencies that have no dealings with this person, i.e. a breach of trust and security.

With Dr Jansen, we should be familiar with that case, but suffice to say, the previous Minister for ACC didn't do his job and have Jansen removed.  And with the current case, it's fair to say the new minister isn't aware of the breach of security and trust, but it should be on top of her new to do list.  As I said, I know four people with dealings with ACC and 50% are not very happy at all.  Is this indicitive and across the board with ACC Claimants, especially in the SCU.

One hopes in the first sitting of parliament Carmel Sepuloni (Labour and champion for these ACC claimants) will set about not so much as embarrassing Judith Collins, but bringing the wrought that is ACC SCU to bear and to create a public backlash that can only see the likes of Jansen and Cosgrove unseated from their pillars of power.  ACC needs an urgent enquiry established, not only to bring the perpetrators to justice, but also to find out how many folks have been disadvantaged and treated with scant disregard so this can be redressed and the department streamlined going forward to improve not only the lives of claimants, but also ACC's huge bureacracy, especially the bungling.

Nothing less than a Royal Commission of Inquiry is needed.  These two claimants I have alluded to may not be the only ones left suffering from their dealings with ACC, and the government and society need to be made aware of how badly placed ACC really are.  If heads have to roll, so be it.  And rest assured, if Judith Collins does her job and fires and hires, those that she does fire have no further input in any government department.

Currently the ACC department is the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, sadly lacking a good heart.