08 October 2020
Anthony Jordan
[FYI request #13751 email]
Tēnā koe Anthony
Your Official Information Act request, reference: GOV-006789
Thank you for your email of 10 September 2020, asking for the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
1.
Total meetings attended by ex-Minister Iain Francis Lees-Gal oway (excluding any board
meetings)
2.
Total Board meetings attended by ex-Minister Iain Francis Lees-Galloway
3.
Changes made to ACC policy as the result of attendance of ex-Minster Iain Francis Lees-
Galloway's meetings (excluding any board meeting)
4.
Changes made to ACC policy as the result of attendance of ex-Minster Iain Francis Lees-Galloway
5.
Changes made to ACC policy, not as the result of attendance of ex-Minster Iain Francis Lees-
Galloway's meetings (excluding any board meeting)
6.
Changes made to ACC policy, not as the result of attendance of ex-Minster Iain Francis Lees-
Galloway.
Changes to ACC policy
We have interpreted your request regarding ACC policy, as concerning the policy settings that comprise
the Accident Compensation Scheme (“the AC Scheme”), including the Accident Compensation Act 2001
and associated regulations. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is responsible
for advising the Minister for ACC on matters relating to the AC scheme, and legislation and regulations
governing the Scheme. Treasury and MBIE work together to identify where policy opportunities may
exist as a result of changing trends in performance.
Any changes the Minister proposes to the AC Scheme need to be agreed by Cabinet and legislative
changes need to go through the Parliamentary process.
ACC is responsible for operating the scheme, focusing on effective delivery of injury prevention
initiatives and no-fault personal injury cover for everyone in New Zealand, including overseas visitors.
The division of responsibility between MBIE and ACC reflects ACC’s status as a Crown Agent and allows
ACC to focus on the effective and efficient delivery of the scheme.
Meetings attended by Minister Iain Lees-Galloway
Minister Lees-Galloway held a weekly officials’ meeting with MBIE, Treasury and ACC officials.
Al meetings attended by Minister Lees-Galloway, including the weekly officials meeting are available in
ministerial diaries published on the Parliament website. This can be found at
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/search?query=&f%5B0%5D=government_facet%3A6203&f%5B1%5D=min
isters%3A6385&f%5B2%5D=content_type_facet%3Aministerial_diary.
As such, we are refusing to provide you with this information as it is publicly available. This decision is
made under section 18(d) of the Official Information Act 1982.
Minister Lees-Galloway attended one ACC Board meeting in March 2018.
GOV-006789
Changes made to ACC scheme policy discussed at Minister Lees-Galloway’s regular weekly officials’
meetings
The fol owing is a brief description of changes made to the AC Scheme when Minister Lees-Galloway
held the position of Minister for ACC from 26 October 2017 to 22 July 2020, the background to which
you can find on the MBIE website a
t https://www.mbie.govt.nz/document-library by filtering for topic
Employment and Skills and sub topic
ACC:
• The Government set ACC levies for 2019/20 to 2020/21
(http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/acc-
levies-drop-will-save-kiwi-businesses-100-million), made changes to Experience Rating and
removed Vehicle Risk Rating from the Motor Vehicle levy.
• Parliament passed the Accident Compensation Amendment Act 2019
(https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/bil -improve-acc-scheme-passed), which made changes to:
o ensure cover to the spouses or partners and dependents of New Zealand employees posted
offshore.
o al ow ACC claimants injured near to, or after retirement age to receive both weekly
compensation and New Zealand Superannuation or the Veterans’ Pension for up to 24 months.
o disestablish the historic Accident Compensation Appeal Authority given the low number of
appeals to this body under the repealed 1972 and 1982 Acts.
o al ow surviving spouses and dependents to receive up to five years of weekly compensation,
regardless of age.
o move from an annual review to a biennial review of the Accident Compensation (Liability to Pay
or Contribute to the Cost of Treatment) Regulations 2003.
o automatically update the maximum and minimum liable earnings to the minimum wage and
the Labour Cost Index respectively to improve the workability of biennial levy rounds.
• The Government moved the definitions of Registered Health Professionals and Treatment Providers
from the Accident Compensation Act 2001 to the Accident Compensation (Definitions) Regulations
2019.
• The Government agreed to change ACC Funding Settings to improve accountability and
transparency by reflecting the true cost of accidents; signal the Government’s commitment to the
longevity of the ACC scheme by addressing the funding gap in the Non-Earners’ Account; and raise
future living standards by improving intergenerational equity (July 2020).
• The Government announced it would maintain current levy rates for the next two years, as part of
a set of changes to help ease the financial pressures of COVID-19 providing certainty for businesses
and New Zealanders (July 2020).
There were no changes to the AC Scheme that were not discussed at a weekly officials’ meeting.
How to get in touch
If you have any questions, you can email me at
[email address].
Accident Compensation Corporation
Page 2 of 3
GOV-006789
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman.
Information about how to do this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800
802 602.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Sasha Wood
Manager Official Information Act Services
Government Engagement & Support
Accident Compensation Corporation
Page 3 of 3
Document Outline
