The dismal state of modern accident compensation

The Labour Party claims to have 'saved' the Accident Compensation Compensation scheme after the previous National Government had slowly eroded its value to employees, and opened parts of its operations to competition. But in practice Labour has actually done little to improve ACC. The original idea of the scheme was a social contract between workers, employers and the government, whereby workers gave up the right to sue for injuries on the premise that the state would give adequate compensation on a no-faults basis. But cost of worker-paid premiums have risen and the payouts have become meagre. For instance, it was reported today that a 29-year-old has just received an ACC payout of only $6000 for the loss of her right leg following a botched routine knee operation. Chris Townrow had to wait five years for the botched surgery. She says in today's media report, 'It has stuffed my whole life up. If this [$6000] amount is what I am worth, it's not much, is it?' I doubt she'll be voting Labour at the next election. Nor National.