Chance to help reform ACC
DUNEDIN barrister Warren Forster has launched a nationwide survey as part of research aimed at reforming the accident compensation system.
He is aiming for 10,000 responses over the next month, and the findings of the Law Foundationsupported research will be presented to ACC Minister Iain LeesGalloway.
‘‘We can find out what people think and then let politicians know what they said about how New Zealand supports people affected by impairment and disability,’’ Mr Forster said.
A highprofile ACC lawyer, he is an advocate for a universal system covering illness and disability as well as accident.
The survey questions were designed to be openended and not simply confirm his own beliefs, Mr Forster said.
Participants are asked about how the Government should treat and respond to people who fall ill, are injured and/or become disabled, what sort of support should be made available for those people, and whether a single integrated system would be better or not.
‘‘Rather than me telling the Government what New Zealanders think, I’m asking New Zealanders what they think and then telling the Government,’’ he said.
‘‘Right now, we have an opportunity to change that.’’
‘‘Iain LeesGalloway has specifically asked to hear from New Zealanders.
‘‘Now is the time for him and the people in government to get the message that New Zealanders want a kinder and more sustainable system.’’