Dean Jacqui: General Debate 
Dean Jacqui: General Debate 
[Volume:652;Page:1638] 
JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) 
: 
 I will read from the  
Ministerial Inquiry into 
Disclosure of Funding Shortfall in ACC Non-earners’ account 
. When the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update was published on 6 October 2008 it included an assessment of the total outstanding claims liability of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) based on the 30 June 2008 data prepared for ACC by PricewaterhouseCoopers Actuarial. What was not included in the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update was any information on the implications of changes in this liability for the Crown’s funding of the non-earners account. The previous Government knew all about it. 
I now refer to a letter—and I will also read from the report—from the previous Minister for ACC the Hon Maryan Street to the previous Minister of Finance the Hon Dr Michael Cullen dated 22 October 2008 which was 1 month before the general election. The letter advises the then Minister of Finance of the then Minister for ACC’s intention to seek an additional appropriation for 2008-09 and future years through Cabinet following the election. The letter informs the then Minister of Finance Dr Cullen that ACC has advised the then Minister for ACC that an increase of $297 million is necessary for 2008-09—and similar amounts in future years. 
The previous Labour Government knew all about the blowout in ACC before the 2008 general election. The previous Government knew about the blowout and chose not to disclose it to the people of New Zealand. The previous Government knew about this funding shortfall and hid it. Both the previous Minister for ACC the Hon Maryan Street and the previous Minister of Finance Michael Cullen knew all about this funding blowout in time for it to be disclosed. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Rubbish! 
JACQUI DEAN 
: The Opposition members are denying it but they cannot deny the facts because the facts are in this report. 
Hon David Carter 
: No one believes them. 
JACQUI DEAN 
: As my colleague the Minister of Agriculture points out nobody believes the Opposition anyway. 
Michael Cullen knew in time for this to be disclosed as a fiscal risk in the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update. He did not disclose it. It is no wonder the public of New Zealand chose a National Government. The actions of the previous Labour Government are irresponsible and have serious and ongoing impacts for the people of this country. 
Let us look at the facts of this report because I think the facts speak for themselves. During the previous Government’s term there was a $15.6 billion increase in ACC liabilities. The PricewaterhouseCoopers valuation which was based on 31 December 2008 data shows that ACC’s liabilities had blown out to $21.9 billion. That is a deterioration of $2.6 billion—taxpayers’ dollars—from 6 months earlier and $3.9 billion of taxpayers’ money over the last year. I would say that those damning facts put the lie well and truly to the Labour Government’s claims to have left the books in good financial heart. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am reluctant to interrupt the member’s speech but she used an unparliamentary word in the context of the speech she is reading out. She might not be aware of it but it is unparliamentary and it should be withdrawn from the record. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Rick Barker) 
: The member is correct. To accuse an individual of telling a lie is the same as accusing a party or a Government. I ask the member to withdraw the comment and continue. 
JACQUI DEAN 
: I withdraw and apologise. These damning facts well and truly point out that the previous Labour Government has failed utterly to leave the books in good condition in good financial heart. Mismanagement of the accident compensation scheme under Labour has contributed to this blowout and I will outline some of those areas. The first is physiotherapy.