RADIO NEW ZEALAND: Labour is challenging the National Party to be open about its accident insurance policy, after a report suggested the Accident Compensation Corporation would be privatised if National wins this year's election.
The report by merchant bankers Merrill Lynch says there is a strong chance a National Government would privatise ACC, opening up a market of about $2 billion in premiums for Australian insurers.
Associate Finance Minister Phil Goff says the report shows National is busy briefing the industry in private but will not tell the public what its policy is.
However, National's ACC spokeswoman Pansy Wong says there is no secret about the party's position.
"We want to get better performance out of ACC, to improve cover for workers and employers, and we maintain our position that we believe choice should be available for workers and employers."
Ms Wong says a Labour Department report last year clearly showed that ACC was not doing as well as it should.
Council of Trade Unions vice-president Richard Wagstaff says National has not been upfront about its policy announcement.
"They call it choice but it is privatising the ACC market, and that's a significant or major concern to the CTU and workers in this country."
Mr Wagstaff says in Australia, which has a privatised system, premiums are higher and benefits are inferior to those available in New Zealand.
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