‘Gagging’ by ACC keeps Acclaim out
A DUNEDINbased support group which has fought for years to improve access to justice for ACC claimants says it has also been denied justice over the membership of a new ‘‘customer advisory panel’’.
A spokeswoman for the Acclaim Otago support group, Dr Denise Powell, has spent 13 years representing the group on ACC community liaison panels.
But in May she said Acclaim Otago would not seek to join a new, restructured ACC panel because a draft ‘‘gagging clause’’ would prevent the group speaking out over key issues that should be discussed openly in a democracy.
Initial draft terms of reference for the recently-established scheme panel said members ‘‘may comment publicly’’ on the panel’s work ‘‘with the prior approval of ACC and MBIE’’.
Dr Powell had always scrupulously complied with any legitimate ‘‘in committee’’ restrictions, but said the draft restrictions went far beyond previous controls.
The panel had since been discussing the issues and could seek to change the restrictions and add to the panel membership.
But it was ‘‘ironic’’ Acclaim Otago was being disadvantaged by its stand on the gagging clause, she said.
Dunedin lawyer and researcher Warren Forster said ACC was insufficiently transparent in dealing with the public.
It was also generally overcontrolling in dealing with the community liaison panels rather than working in a genuine partnership.
The harsher restrictions on public discussion were ‘‘pretty typical’’ of problems ACC had with open dialogue, and in listening to and learning from such panels.
Acclaim Otago had been treated unjustly, and ‘‘a seat at the table’’ should be found for the group as soon as possible, Mr Forster said.
ACC spokesman James Funnell said the corporation had run ‘‘an open and transparent application process, in which Acclaim chose not to participate’’.
‘‘Since advising us of that decision they’ve engaged with the media but not attempted to discuss their concerns with us,’’ Mr Funnell said.
ACC has denied the draft restrictions amounted to a gagging clause.
At the customer advisory panel’s first meeting on August 10, members had discussed how they would work, and protect ‘‘any confidential information they received’’ while continuing ‘‘normal public conversations about nonconfidential ACC matters’’.
Panel members might soon discuss if ‘‘more members should be invited to join the panel’’, he said.