Greens dismayed at Maori support for ACC bill

Sue Bradford said she could not understand the Maori Party's support for the bill. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Green Party is dismayed the Maori Party is going to back the first reading of a government bill, increasing ACC levies and cutting back some ACC entitlements.

Green MP Sue Bradford said she was also concerned by remarks Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia made suggesting partial privatisation could be a positive for Maori.

The Maori Party yesterday agreed to support the first reading of the bill.

"I just cannot understand why the Maori Party would be supporting the ACC legislation even through first reading," Ms Bradford said this morning.

"This would have the most atrocious outcome on low paid workers with the least power to negotiate and of course many Maori are in that situation."

Mrs Turia said her party was supporting the first reading so the debate could happen. She said Maori had received less access to ACC and her party wanted to see how this bias could be addressed.

"We see that ACC is one of those issues in which every New Zealander has an interest - directly or potentially. On this important basis, we think that the people should be given the opportunity to have a say on the proposed legislation," Mrs Turia said.

"When the people have had their say, we will consider our position."

As Disability Minister, Mrs Turia has also raised concerns about a reduction in the budget for converting houses and vehicles for disabled people.

The Maori Party's votes give the Government a bare majority on the bill, expected to be introduced on Thursday or early next week.

ACT, the other minor party the Government is negotiating with, wants parts of ACC, such as the workers' account, opened up to private competition and will continue to push that line.

Mrs Turia on Sunday criticised that idea, saying that costs for ACC would increase if private enterprise was able to take the only profit-making part of the insurance.

The workers' account was opened to competition by the previous National government and Labour re-nationalised it after winning the 1990 election.

Mrs Turia yesterday left the door open.

"We had the same concerns back in the 1990s about opening up the primary healthcare to private providers and that actually turned out to be in the interests of Maori health providers. So we're not sure, we are still investigating."

Ms Bradford said during the 1990s privatisation, employers pressured workers into not reporting accidents or saying they happened outside of work so they could retain low premiums.

"Tariana Turia seems to be actually saying privatisation may be a good thing for Maori and I don't think there's a shred of evidence for that, and if she looked into what even began to happen back when it was partially privatised under National before, she would see the outcomes were really poor particularly for workers with the least bargaining power.

"... I just can't believe that the Maori party would support this legislation."

- NZPA