Labour backs ACC rorts

The Labour Party Blog, The Standard, has today come out and supported ACC staff using taxpayer money to get face lifts and pet grooming done for themselves.

...makes great economic sense. At a cost of just 0.005% of ACC’s total salary bill the activa contribution has led to improved productivity, less sick leave and improved staff retention, leading to a more stable and effective workforce.

Now, call me a dumb ass, but how do botox injections, pet grooming, day spas, and face lifts "improve productivity", and lead to a "more stable and effective workforce"?

Clearly they don't, and the folks at The Standard who leaked the audio tape from the National Party conference last weekend, will clearly support any sort of State agency, even if it is as corrupt an inefficient as ACC clearly is, just because it is in Labour's central mantra to back these large money wasting schemes because they are State run.

Clearly another case of philosophy triumphing over common sense.

But Maryan Street's backed ACC in Parliament yesterday:

Hon MARYAN STREET: I presume it is a case of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) practising what it preaches, in that it is trying to prevent injury. I commend it for that.

The back up coming from the Labour Party Blog, The Standard, today will backfire in Labour's face as it did with Street's backing of Housing welfare staff luxuriating at a 5 star resort last year.

When will they learn that kiwis have had a gutsful.

Gag me with a spoon, before socialism does.

Related Political Animal reading

ACC staff spending on day spas and pet care

c Political Animal 2008

Labour will flip flop on Herceptin

Watch for a major back flip and flip flop by Labour on the denial by their drug deliverer, Pharmac, of Herceptin for women dying of breast cancer.

National quite rightly, will fund the life saving drug when they take office in November 2008.

In the wake of crippling polls, a State infrastructure crumbling before our eyes, a deep Labour fed recession and a scandal over ACC staff rorts out yesterday Labour need to do the common sense thing to retain votes.

Funding Herceptin is the right thing to do. Funding pet grooming and face lifts for State ACC staff is clearly mad.

Related Political Animal reading

ACC Staff spending on day spas and petcare

c Political Animal 2008/ Cartoon c Stan Blanch 2008

VIDEO: Paris Hilton for Prime Minister

As the readers of Political Animal know, we are never, ever trivial, and I would like to say that the video that is being presented here is about as serious as one can get when it comes to politics and the political landscape in 2008.

Unlike the New Zealand Labour Party, Paris is always relevant, has serious issues to broach and has a...like really, really, really good energy policy.

Paris Hilton also has an interest in the environment, health care, business and a policy to end war in the Middle East.

The best part is though, in this pre-Presidential video, is that little Paris is unable to conceal any secret recording devices to tape her worthy opponents. The girl is almost naked and lets face it most politicians wouldnt look good nude but like hey, Paris does.

Good on ya for being upfront Paris, we could use your political savvy here in New Zealand.

Not only more intelligent than the whole Labour Cabinet put together but much easier on the eye than our current Prime Minister Ms Helen.

At Political Animal we endorse Paris Hilton's run for President.

We love Paris, we Love Paris!

c Political Animal 2008

ACC staff spending on day spas and petcare

In the wake of the Accident Compensation Corporation failing to look after the British Scientist who lost all her limbs at a work place accident in New Zealand last year and the Labour Government that passed legislation earlier on this decade to limit maximum payouts under ACC to NZ$100,000.00, come revelations today of extreme wasteful spending by the beleaguered, inefficient and expensive public "insurance" government department.

In Parliament today Pansy Wong asked a series of questions and they were answered by the Minister for ACC, well known for condoning overspending by government departments:

Pansy Wong: How does giving staff $250 each per year to spend through the activa card on activities like manicures and day spas promote a more active lifestyle and keep staff fit and well for work?

Hon MARYAN STREET: I presume it is a case of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) practising what it preaches, in that it is trying to prevent injury. I commend it for that. It is in fact an operational matter that is under the jurisdiction of the chief executive officer. But I suppose it is good to hear the National Party spokeswoman on accident compensation actually saying something about the portfolio at least once every 6 months, given that she was not able to—or not allowed to—say anything about National’s policy when it was released.

Manicures and day spas part of "preventing injury"? I think not.

Pansy Wong: Does the Minister believe that the active and healthy lifestyle of ACC staff is promoted by spending $250 for each person per year on animal care, including pet grooming?

Hon MARYAN STREET: I have no idea what that has to do with the health and safety of ACC staff, but I am happy to look into that for the member.

What part of an employers responsibility is it to look after employees pets?

Pansy Wong: Can the Minister assure the House that ACC staff are not spending $750,000 worth of taxpayers’ money on Botox, facelifts, and other cosmetic treatments that are services provided for through the activa cards, or does she think that this is an acceptable use of ACC funds?

Hon MARYAN STREET: In respect of the first part of the question, I think I can assure the House of that. But I will check that with the chair of the board, given the member’s obvious concern about the expenditure of ACC money.

If this is a fact then it is a scandal.

Nothing on TV news this evening or in the newspapers.

This sort of corrupt practice, the spending of taxpayer money on things that individuals should be paying for themselves, in the face of a recession and high taxes, is a very good reason why this government department should be subject to competition at the very least.

Personally I think it should be sold.

The bleating from the left about the ACC being fair, efficient and a wonderful State apparatus is clearly quite wrong in the face of the above and more the public dont know about.

The Minister clearly has little trouble with wasteful spending machinations at ACC because it is a State department and it is taxpayer money they are wasting and that clearly doesn't matter when it comes to this Minister and the Labour Party.

Related Links

Full transcript of Pansy Wong's question

c Political Animal 2008