The NZCTU supports the underlying kaupapa of the Bill to improve access for injured persons to the accident compensation scheme, to increase transparency on the levels of access to the scheme, and to give better effect to the purpose of weekly compensation.
While the changes in the Bill represent a good start to achieving these intended objectives, the NZCTU believes the Bill could go further to implement effective improvements through recognising and addressing systemic inequalities in the scheme.
In our submission the NZCTU argues for stronger duties to be placed on the Minister for ACC to act on issues identified with accessing the scheme, we also argue that proper delivery of services and outcomes for Māori will require a system that recognises Te Tiriti, and Māori as Treaty partners in Aotearoa.