ACC concerns raised at rally

A protest rally at Parliament yesterday had successfully highlighted concerns about proposed law changes to the ACC scheme, a Dunedin ACC campaigner said.

Denise Powell, president of Acclaim Otago, an ACC claimant support group, spoke at the protest, which involved several hundred people.

Many Acclaim Otago members had been adversely affected by a previous "cull" of long-term ACC claimants in the late 1990s, she said.

"This time, however, we are determined to have our voices heard."

Any reduction in ACC entitlements was "simply an exercise in shifting the burden of liability for necessary treatment and expenses" from the State to individuals and their families, she said.

Acclaim Otago had no objection to legitimate assessments of ACC claimants but was concerned about the use of repeated assessments and a "callous" approach in removing injured people from entitlements under the scheme.

The Government has warned that changes are needed if the scheme is to remain financially viable.

Labour leader Phil Goff used the protest to warn Australian-owned insurance companies against investing in the scheme here should it become opened for privatisation.