Blue Jackie: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Blue Jackie: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:670;Page:17384] 
4. 
Dr JACKIE BLUE (National) 
 to the  
Minister for ACC 
: How many claims has ACC received since the tragic earthquake on 22 February and what steps has the Government taken to facilitate prompt compensation for those seriously injured? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for ACC) 
: 
 As at this morning 5907 claims had been received. These claims included over 3000 soft tissue injuries 1010 lacerations 437 fractures 419 neck injuries 183 head injuries 47 burns and six amputations. The lunchtime earthquake created uncertainty about whether injuries were workplace or non-work accidents. The difference determines whether the employer or the employee meets the cost of the first week’s compensation. The Government has decided through a special Order in Council for ACC to pay this first week which benefits both employees and employers and removes any debate at this difficult time. 
Dr Jackie Blue 
: Has the Minister received any estimates of the costs of accident compensation claims from the 22 February earthquake; if so are these costs likely to impact on current and future levies for the scheme? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: The 22 February earthquake will be the accident compensation scheme’s largest-ever single event involving claims. Its latest estimate of the total number of claims is 7500 and this has enabled an update on the estimated lifetime costs at approximately $200 million. This estimated cost needs to be considered in the context of claim costs per year of about $3 billion. ACC has worked very hard over the past 2 years to improve its financial position and I am hopeful that the cost of the earthquake claims will be able to be met without any levy increases. 
Chris Hipkins 
: Will the cost of providing the first week of income compensation under the scheme which he has announced be funded through the ACC work account; if not how will it be funded? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: For those who were seriously injured who will be eligible for that extra week of compensation that funding will be taken from either the earners account or the work account in exactly the same way that the future week’s compensation will be. I note that a higher proportion of claims than the overall average for ACC are actually in the work account. That is not surprising given that a large number of people would have been at work at the time of the earthquake and given the number of people injured in the central business district of Christchurch where there would have been a higher proportion of working people. 
Dr Jackie Blue 
: Are foreign nationals who were injured in the 22 February earthquake and the families of the deceased eligible for support from accident compensation and what endeavours have been made to ensure that they are well informed of their entitlements under the scheme? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Yes. At the core of our unique no-fault 24/7 scheme is automatic entitlements for everyone including overseas visitors as the trade-off for the loss of the right to sue. Foreign nationals who have been injured are eligible for emergency care treatment and rehabilitation in New Zealand and for lump-sum compensation for significant injuries. Income compensation is also available if the foreign nationals were working and paying tax and ACC levies in New Zealand. Families of the bereaved are eligible for a funeral grant. Dependants of the deceased may also be eligible for a survivor’s grant and income compensation if the deceased was working and paying taxes and ACC levies in New Zealand. The accident compensation scheme does not differentiate based on which country a foreign national comes from nor should it.