Labour says possible job cuts at ACC are “irresponsible and morally wrong” and include axing roles in the prevention of sexual violence.
The party also stated that road and workplace safety jobs are on the line.
Labour’s stance is backed up by the Public Service Association, who said the cuts are “just more dumb stuff forced on ACC by the Government’s spending cuts”.
ACC is proposing to cut more than 390 roles as part of cost saving measures. Of those, 81 are vacant and not in client-facing – frontline – teams. The proposed cuts would be a 9% reduction of its total workforce.
ACC also proposed to establish 315 new roles in different areas of the organisation, making the net total roles lost in the proposal 325.
Labour’s ACC spokesperson Rachel Boyack said the Government was choosing to put tax cuts before preventing serious incidents that could cause long-term harm.
“These cuts are irresponsible and morally wrong.
“ACCs work is all about preventing injuries and stopping them from happening in the first place. All of the evidence points to investment in injury prevention reducing harm as being the best value for money.”
She said workforce cuts at ACC would “put strain on a vital service” that people relied on.
Labour prevention of family and sexual violence spokesperson Ginny Andersen said ACC was the lead agency for a number of actions under New Zealand’s National Strategy and Action Plan to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence (Te Aorerekura).
“I am appalled that roles dealing with sexual violence are on the chopping block.
“ACC has a four-year work stream to establish a sexual violence primary prevention approach. With one in five New Zealand adults experiencing sexual assault in their lifetime, what happens to this work now is hugely important.
“The minister has been briefed and should understand the size of the problem in New Zealand. Most investment is spent dealing with the consequences after serious harm has occurred, but we must invest in prevention as well.”
“The Government’s plan to cut roles at ACC that prevent sexual violence while putting out a statement committing to action for rape awareness week, is jarring and disgraceful.”
Yesterday, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour and acting Minister for Women Louise Upston distributed a statement acknowledging rape awareness week, which runs until May 10.
In the statement, Upston – who is also the social development minister – said rape survivors told her it was important they were “heard and supported” and New Zealand’s workforces played a “crucial role in ensuring safety and care for victims”.
Upston is the acting Minister for Women while Nicola Grigg is on parental leave.
PSA assistant secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said ACC was a “unique, world leading no-fault compensation scheme” and “the envy of many other countries”.
“It makes no sense to propose these cuts particularly as our working age population is increasing.
“This is just more dumb stuff forced on ACC by the Government’s spending cuts. We will all pay the price for years to come with more accidents, injuries and harm.”
Fitzsimons was Labour’s Rongotai candidate at the 2023 election, ranked 56th on its pre-election list.
Among the raft of changes across ACC are significant cuts to the Injury Prevention teams, she said.
“This is an absolutely vital area dealing with workplace safety, prevention of sexual violence, and road safety. This work is all about ensuring accidents and injuries don’t happen in the first place. A government so focused on reducing costs and ‘better outcomes’ should be investing more in these areas, not less.
“ACC can’t possibly do better with fewer staff particularly when stress on the organisation is growing. All the evidence points to investment in injury prevention reducing harm and being the best value for money.
“ACC told the new Minister the ‘financial sustainability of the Scheme [for managing personal injury] is under pressure…With ongoing growth in claims volumes each year, it is more important than ever that ACC focuses on providing the right supports at the right time for clients’.”
Final decisions on the proposal will be announced on June 26, and a new structure is proposed to be in place on by September.
ACC Minister Matt Doocey issued a statement on the proposed cuts this evening.
“As a Crown Entity, these changes are an operational matter for ACC, however, I have been assured that frontline services won’t be impacted.
“ACC hasn’t received a specific savings target from government. I am aware ACC has been considering how it can support the Government’s savings priorities while also ensuring it delivers the best outcomes for New Zealanders.
“I am mindful that the proposed changes are subject to a good faith consultation process and that no final decisions have been made.”
