The resignation of ACC chief executive Dr Jan White raises further concerns about the future of the ACC scheme, Dunedin ACC campaigner Denise Powell says.
ACC chairman John Judge recently announced that Dr White, who has been in ACC's top job for five years, will step down from her role in December to explore other opportunities.
Ms Powell, who is president of Acclaim Otago, an Otago ACC claimant advocacy group, said ACC had recently experienced "an incredibly difficult time".
The group acknowledged the valuable contribution of Dr White, who was previously chief executive of the Waikato District Health Board. Acclaim Otago was particularly concerned that Dr White, with her strong public sector background, was leaving, when people with her "background and skills" were needed.
Acclaim Otago was also concerned that former Commerce Commission chairwoman Paula Rebstock, who recently chaired the Welfare Working Group, had been appointed to the ACC board, and noted that an actuary, Jill Spooner, had also been appointed.
Some of the Welfare Group's recommendations to the Government had amounted to "extremely aggressive attacks" on New Zealanders suffering from sickness and disability, Ms Powell said.
Approached for comment, a spokesman for ACC Minister Dr Nick Smith noted he had stated that Ms Rebstock brought "many years of experience in Government and business" from her time as chairwoman of the Commerce Commission and that Ms Spooner provided "high-quality actuarial experience".
Dr Smith also said Dr White had been an "outstanding" chief executive and he regretted she had not been available to continue.
