Collins Judith: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
Text is subject to correction 
Collins Judith: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 01 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4225. Text is subject to correction.] 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister for ACC) 
: 
 Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this matter of Vote ACC. I have enjoyed the contributions tonight particularly those from Mr Woodhouse and I was interested in some of the comments made by Mr Little. I thought I would come back to the estimates because after all this is actually the debate on the estimates and see just how important Mr Little thought this area of ACC was. I found out that it was not at all important obviously because there is no transcript and there is no report; it is simply all accepted. Not one question was asked of me in the estimates hearings. That tells me that the crocodile tears that we have referred to tonight were in fact absolutely there present this evening.  
I also noted his comments describing my predecessor Dr Nick Smith as—what was it—the worst Minister for ACC. Oh no I beg to differ. The worst Minister for ACC was the Minister who completely forgot about the injury prevention programme and who got caught drink-driving. I think that was the worst Minister for ACC. That was the Hon Ruth Dyson who as I recall after a wee while out in the cold was brought back in as a Minister in the Helen Clark - led Government. What was that about standards I heard them talking about today? I actually think she was the worst Minister for ACC and I thought that was a stunning—stunning—comment from Mr Little given that he must know about Miss Dyson’s problems and yet he continued to go down that road.  
I think it is a very serious issue to actually look at the service agreement and I notice that Mr Little referred to only one of the areas where I said to ACC that I expect to see improvement. I thought I would speak to the Committee tonight about some of the areas. Apart from improving public trust and confidence which I believe is an absolutely paramount important issue for ACC I expect to see improved management and security of private information. I believe that that has not been given the priority that it should have been given primarily because the board and the organisation of ACC were so focused on having to fix up the financial mess they inherited.  
The next one is to maintain a focus on levy stability and financial sustainability. That is absolutely crucial. ACC is an icon in this country. This is the only country in the world with accident compensation. It is a world leader and we are pretty much out on our own. Some countries and jurisdictions have things similar to ACC— 
Andrew Little 
: How much in funds under investment? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: —but nothing to the extent that it is here. I see that Mr Little is now going to be a big lion. He was a real mouse in the select committee I understand.  
The other focus is to provide high-quality services for clients and to ensure early resolution of disputes. Mr Little was talking about the reviews in that. He forgot to mention that to the Committee—he has forgotten a few things. It is about ensuring early resolution of disputes and providing high-quality services for clients. What is there to argue about with that?  
Andrew Little 
: Why have you cut the funding for vocational rehabilitation? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: Did he mention that? No he did not. Oh he is talking about vocational rehabilitation. Of course Mr Little does not like Australians. We found that out tonight. We already know that the Labour Party does not like Chinese—we heard that today in question time—but now it does not like Australians. I did not hear a peep out of him when he was a trade union official and he realised just how much money ACC pays to the trade unions to provide health and safety assistance.  
Hon Tony Ryall 
: How much? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: I understand that it is around $1 million a year—around that. It is all contracted of course to provide that. So Mr Little when in his New Zealand Amalgamated Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union organisation might have received some of that. I am not sure whether he did. Did your organisation receive any of that Mr Little? He does not want to answer that one. We do know that Mr Little does not want to answer it because he does not like Australians. We already know that the Labour Party does not like Chinese and now it does not like any organisation that might take some of the business away from trade unions. I have got no problems working with trade unions on this. I am happy to be able to do so. I met with Helen Kelly the other day who is very good to deal with. I am happy to work with them but I think we do need to be just a little bit up front about some of the financial realities in this.  
Hon Tony Ryall 
: What did she say about Andrew Little? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: Oh she did not say a thing. 
Vote agreed to.