ACC claimant advocacy group Acclaim Otago has welcomed an announcement by ACC Minister Nikki Kaye that a senior lawyer will investigate access to justice issues highlighted in a recent report.
An Auckland lawyer, Miriam Dean QC, will undertake an independent inquiry into the issues in the ‘‘Understanding the Problem'' report, initiated by the advocacy group, and released in July.
And Ms Kaye also simultaneously announced the terms of reference for wider consultation, to be completed by next March, on a proposal to establish an Accident Compensation Appeal Tribunal.
Ms Dean was "a recognised expert'' in formal advocacy and alternative dispute resolution and was "well placed'' to undertake the inquiry, Ms Kaye said.
Warren Forster, of Dunedin, the lead author of the report, said the minister's approach in seeking the inquiry was "encouraging''.
Access to justice issues would ‘‘really benefit from a rigorous analysis by someone with access to government resources''.
The report's authors realised they did not have all the answers and it was "great that someone of Ms Dean's calibre and experience'' would investigate the issues raised, he said.
The July 2015 report found that barriers to justice facing many ACC claimants included:
● Insufficient access to the law.
● Access to evidence often difficult, including issues obtaining relevant medical evidence.
● Insufficient access to an experienced lawyer to defend claimant's interests.
● Claimants believed they were not ‘‘being heard'', and given a fair hearing by independent judicial officer based on evidence and law.
Acclaim Otago spokeswoman Dr Denise Powell said the minister had signalled a "collaborative approach'' to ensuring these issues were inquired into and addressed.
This was "only the beginning'', but it was ‘‘the first time in decades'' that the ACC law's effects had been considered.
