5. Question No. 5—ACCANGELA ROBERTS (Labour) to the Minister for ACCQuestion No. 5—ACC5. ANGELA ROBERTS (Labour) to the Minister for ACC: What announcements has she made about improving ACC support for workers?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for ACC): Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Accident Compensation Act which passed in this very House in 1972. ACC is a word-leading scheme and has served New Zealand well for decades. But as with any scheme that is 50 years old we need to ensure it continues to be updated. We took the first step in this mahi by the passing of the maternal birth injuries bill and today I announced a new review framework for Schedule 2 of the Accident Compensation Act 2001. This framework will guide a fresh look at what occupational diseases should be covered in the year 2023 and beyond. The review of Schedule 2 will be consulted publicly ensuring that workers businesses and other interested parties can provide feedback.Angela Roberts: Why is a new review framework needed?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Schedule 2 is set up to reflect a very different labour market to the one we have now and has not been updated since 2010. It has now become clear that women Māori Pacific and disabled people are not as well served by ACC. The new review framework will provide a regular evidence-based approach to review Schedule 2 to ensure it reflects diseases that all working New Zealanders experience. It will take into account gender and improve our understanding of how occupational diseases impact different population groups in Aotearoa. Previous National Governments have made cuts to the support ACC provides to New Zealanders or tried to privatise it. This Government is committed to strengthening ACC supports and ensuring they serve New Zealanders as we are in 2022 and beyond. [Interruption]SPEAKER: I'm going to award the Opposition the National Party a question. That was unnecessary on a Government question to itself.Angela Roberts: What other announcements has she made regarding ACC?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Recently I announced the opening of consultation on changes to ACC's Accredited Employers Programme. At its best the programme enables employers to provide a better experience for injured workers and supports them to recover fully from their injuries. However over time it's become clear that stronger measures are needed. The consultation aims to help us strengthen the programme by ensuring employers are held to account and injured workers are better supported. We know that this programme does deliver positive outcomes and that it currently delivers better return-to-work outcomes for employees. It's important that we maintain this but we are committed to taking steps to better support injured workers on their journeys to returning to work.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Will the Minister commit to our professional firefighters that the review of occupational diseases will result in a presumptive list of cancers for cover that evidence shows is linked to their occupation?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: We're not looking at presumptive cover.Angela Roberts: What are the proposed changes to the Accredited Employers Programme?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: The proposals aim to tighten the standards for and the monitoring of accredited employers pick up poor performers faster and provide a greater range of sanctions if poor performance occurs. This includes exiting poor performers from the programme if they are unable or unwilling to improve. The proposals have been co-designed with employers workers and health and safety experts to ensure that we strike the right balance between the welfare of workers and compliance costs for employers. Both of these moves are timely in updating ACC for the modern era. I'd like to recognise all of those who were a part of passing the Act 50 years ago. Their foresight has provided us with a fantastic resource for New Zealand. It is our job as stewards of the legislation to ensure it continues to evolve to reflect the modern world we live in.