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Environment and ACC Minister Nick Smith is encouraging Kiwis to take extra care while enjoying fireworks this Guy Fawkes.

“I want people to enjoy Guy Fawkes and fireworks but to do so responsibly to avoid injury, damage to property and harm to animals. I particularly want to encourage people to attend professional public displays that carry the least risk,” Dr Smith said.

ACC levy reductions of more than half a billion dollars a year for workers and businesses have been approved with ACC declaring a healthy surplus for the last year of $3.5 billion.

“These levy reductions will save households $340 million a year and businesses $247 million a year. This is money that will go back into the pockets of hard working New Zealanders and will assist with our economic recovery,” ACC Minister Nick Smith said.

Home injuries cost New Zealanders $537 million last year, says the Associate Minister for ACC, Hekia Parata.

This week is New Zealand Safety Week where the focus is on raising awareness of the extent and consequences of falls in the home.

Home injuries accounted for the highest proportion of new ACC claims – 612,000 - and the highest proportion of cost in 2010.

The most common causes of accidents in the home were slips, trips and falls.

ACC Minister Nick Smith today announced the appointment of respected accountant John Meehan to the ACC Board.

“John Meehan’s extensive experience in audit, risk management and governance will strengthen the eight-member Board,” Dr Smith said.

“The Board has made excellent progress in getting ACC’s finances under control. The Board and management have worked hard to improve rehabilitation rates and better control costs giving room for levy reductions. Strong financial skills are important to ensuring ongoing performance.”

The Government today approved for consultation ACC levy reductions of more than half a billion dollars for workers and businesses from April next year.

ACC is proposing levy reductions for employees of 17% and employers 22% saving households $340 million a year and businesses $247 million a year.

“These significant levy reductions are good news for families and businesses and are affordable because of the prudent management of ACC’s finances,” ACC Minister Nick Smith said.

There is room to reduce levies for wage earners and businesses due to ongoing improvements in ACC’s finances, ACC Minister Nick Smith told the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee at Parliament today.

“ACC is expecting a surplus for the 2010/11 year of $2.5 billion – $1.5 billion greater than ACC’s budget projection. This follows a surplus of $2.5 billion in 2009/10, and losses of $4.8 billion in 2008/09 and $2.4 billion in 2007/08,” Dr Smith said.

ACC Minister Nick Smith today released a Government discussion document on reforms to ACC saying increasing choice in workplace accident compensation will help improve safety, rehabilitation and efficiency.

“These pragmatic proposals are about putting employers at the centre of workplace injury management. We are proposing giving employers who want it a choice of workplace accident cover for their workers from either ACC or a private insurer,” Dr Smith said.

Traffic lights on dangerous coastal bars are to be trialled as part of a joint injury prevention initiative from ACC, Coastguard New Zealand, Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Maritime New Zealand, ACC Minister Nick Smith announced today in Greymouth.

“Coastal bars are high risk areas in which 12 New Zealanders have drowned in the past decade.  It can be very difficult to assess how dangerous conditions can be, particularly from sea.  This initiative is about improving safety by warning boat users when a bar is at its most dangerous.” Dr Smith said.

Dispute Resolution Services Limited (DRSL) is to become an independent Crown Company on 1 July 2011 as part of the Government’s reforms to improve New Zealand’s system of accident compensation, ACC Minister Nick Smith announced today at a conference on work place safety in Wellington.

Improved performance by ACC in the Non-Earners’ Account has freed up $638 million of taxpayer funding over the next four years, Finance Minister Bill English and ACC Minister Nick Smith announced today.

“I am disappointed this matter has not been able to be resolved by the material being removed from the internet and legal proceedings being discontinued,” Dr Nick Smith said.

"I am unable to intervene as Minister because this is a matter between individuals before the court but I hope common sense prevails."
 

ACC Minister Nick Smith today announced the appointments of former Commerce Commission Chair Paula Rebstock and actuary Jill Spooner to the eight-member ACC Board.

“These new three-year appointments are about ensuring there is a diverse range of skills around the board table of ACC. Paula Rebstock brings many years of experience in Government and business from her time as Chair of the Commerce Commission and Jill Spooner will provide high quality actuarial expertise,” Dr Smith said.

The introduction of experience rating today is about providing stronger incentives for businesses to improve workplace safety and make ACC levies fairer, ACC Minister Nick Smith says.

“The averaged ACC levy system has meant businesses with good workplace safety have been carrying the cost of others that are less safe. This new system of experience rating is about better aligning ACC levies with risk and rewarding employers with good safety records,” Dr Smith said.

ACC Minister Nick Smith today welcomed the conviction of ACC’s former national property manager Malcolm Mason on corruption and bribery charges.

“It is extremely serious when we have a senior public servant taking bribes and compromising the integrity of state purchasing,” Dr Smith said. “The victims of Mr Mason’s corruption are all New Zealanders who pay ACC levies, other businesses that missed out on work because of his corrupt acts, and public servants who do their jobs with honesty and integrity.

ACC Minister Nick Smith is reassuring Christchurch employers that they won’t be penalised by ACC for injuries to their workers caused by the 22 February earthquake.

“Under ACC’s existing regulations, employers who had staff injured or killed in their workplace during the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February could have their Work Account levies increased as a result. This is unfair and that is why an exception needs to be made,” Dr Smith said.

ACC Associate Minister Hekia Parata will tomorrow launch a scooter safety campaign which aims to get young riders to cover up to reduce their risk of injury.

“A lot of young people are riding scooters wearing light clothing, such as teeshirts, shorts and jandals,” says Ms Parata. “This means if they come off their scooter, they’re likely to sustain significant injuries.”

ACC is doing all it can to support the injured and those who have lost loved ones in the Christchurch earthquake, ACC Minister Nick Smith says.

Reform of ACC is needed to improve incentives for workplace safety, improve services for claimants and keep levies affordable both now and in the future, ACC Minister Nick Smith announced today.

ACC is prepared to do all it can to assist the families of the 29 Pike River Mine workers, ACC Minister Nick Smith says. 

"The tragedy at Pike River Mine is expected to be the biggest claim for a workplace accident in the history of the ACC scheme," Dr Smith said. "A tragedy of this sort is exactly why we have a comprehensive no-fault accident compensation scheme and why New Zealanders make a contribution towards it. No one should have to go through drawn-out litigation for entitlements after such a traumatic event. 

The costs of hearing aids for people with a mix of injury and non-injury-related hearing loss are to be apportioned between ACC and Health from 1 January 2011, ACC Minister Nick Smith announced tod

Environment and ACC Minister Nick Smith is encouraging people to behave responsibly while enjoying Guy Fawkes this week.

A woman who survived German Labour Camps as a child, was this evening awarded the ACC Medal for her inspirational lifestyle.

ACC's marked improvement in performance is welcomed and puts the scheme on to a path of financial sustainability, ACC Minister Nick Smith says.