Bradford Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Bradford Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:608;Page:5596] 
3.  
SUE BRADFORD (Green) 
 to the  
Minister for ACC 
: Is she satisfied that the Accident Compensation Corporation’s equity investments contribute to the corporation’s mission of reducing injury; if so why? 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Minister for ACC) 
: 
 The Accident Compensation Corporation’s equity investments are not required to contribute directly to its injury prevention programme. Those investments help to fund accident compensation claimants’ entitlements. 
Sue Bradford 
: When did the Minister become aware that the Accident Compensation Corporation owns over 8 percent of DB Breweries Ltd and has shares worth tens of millions of dollars in Lion Nathan and does she think it appropriate that the value of accident compensation funds available for rehabilitation and compensation depend in part on alcohol sales given that alcohol abuse is a significant direct cost in tens of millions of dollars to the Accident Compensation Corporation? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I have been aware of that information for some time. As I said the corporation’s equity investment is not related directly to its injury prevention programmes. 
Helen Duncan 
: Can the Minister tell the House how the Accident Compensation Corporation’s mission of injury prevention is progressing? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: The Accident Compensation Corporation has substantially increased its funding of injury prevention programmes. It is supporting numerous initiatives. For example the corporation’s early employer intervention programme has achieved injury reductions for the 6 months to December 2002 of between 8 percent and 22 percent compared with the same period in the previous year. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Given that the Accident Compensation Corporation’s 2002 annual report states: “Injury prevention is the ultimate fulfilment of ACC’s responsibility to the people of New Zealand under the Act.” why has this Government failed so miserably to prevent an increase of over 14000 moderate to severe injuries between 1998-99 when it came into office and 2001-02? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I agree that the reduction of injuries has not been enough and that is why we are continuing to expand the many successful initiatives that have been introduced only since the party that that member belongs to left Government. 
Peter Brown 
: Noting that the Minister is satisfied with the Accident Compensation Corporation’s financial investment regime could she tell the House whether she is satisfied with the way the corporation treats accident victims particularly long-term victims? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: No I am not 100 percent satisfied and that is why the Government has continued through measures like the introduction of the Code of ACC Claimants’ Rights to improve the quality of the service available to claimants. 
Sue Bradford 
: Given that a 1996 study of the social costs of alcohol abuse showed tangible costs to the Accident Compensation Corporation of almost $30 million from alcohol abuse what rate of return does the corporation need from its multiple brewery shares to break even? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: As I indicated in my answer to the primary question there is no direct link between the number of injuries injury prevention programmes and the corporation’s equity investments. 
Sue Bradford 
: Does the Accident Compensation Corporation’s current statement of corporate intent contain a statement on ethical investment as required under its Act; if not when will she require such a statement to be produced given that the bill was passed in 2001? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I am advised that that requirement has not been met by the Accident Compensation Corporation but having had it drawn both to the corporation’s attention and to my attention it is highly unlikely that this oversight will be repeated. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: I seek leave to table a chart from the Accident Compensation Corporation’s publication  
Consequences 
 which shows that moderate to severe accidents increased by over 14000 during this Government’s watch. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.