Michael Woodhouse MP: ACC Changes Necessary

Sunday, March 7, 2010

ACC Changes Necessary

I have been quite involved in the policy and Select Committee work that resulted in the ACC amendment Act being passed recently. This will ensure ACC is affordable, sustainable, and fair for current and future generations.
ACC claim costs have risen 57 per cent in the past four years - five times the rate of inflation - and the unfunded liabilities have grown from $4 billion to $13 billion.
The scale of levy increases required this year without these law changes would be crippling for workers, motorists, and businesses. The law changes enable the levy increase this year for the average worker to be reduced from $550 to $150. The levy increase for motorists is $30 a car, down from $104. And for employers the average levy increase is 12 per cent instead of 44 per cent.
This law change is part of the Government’s objective to secure the long-term future of ACC as an effective and fair 24/7 no-fault insurance scheme for all New Zealanders.
More information:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/affordable+sustainable+and+fair+acc

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Background:

I was most recently the Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Hospital Dunedin, a position I held for 7 ½ years. Previous to that I held senior management positions with ACC, where I was instrumental in implementing ACC’s Elective Services Contracting framework and at Dunedin Hospital in change management, revenue and planning roles.

I was educated at St Pauls High School (now Kavanagh College) and graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. I am a Chartered Accountant and also have a Master of Health Administration from the University of New South Wales.

I was also the President of the NZ Private Surgical Hospitals Association and have also been the Vice President of the NZ Private Hospitals Association, a larger organisation which included the private aged care sector. I am also a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management and the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

I have been a Rotarian since 2001 and am active in community and voluntary work in the region. I am an avid rugby fan, having played age group representative rugby for Otago and South Island teams and am a premier grade referee as well as a “fair weather” runner. My wife Amanda and I and our three daughters have a crib in Cromwell and in our spare time enjoy the great outdoors of Central Otago.

Responsibilities:

I am a member of the Health Select Committee, and of the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee.

I am also a member of the National Party’s Economic and Commerce Caucus Committee.

My Commitment as Your MP:

I firmly believe in the values that underpin the National Party – loyalty, security, equity of opportunity, freedom and choice, limited Government, strong families, caring communities and a sustainable environment.

I commit to maintaining those values and working on your behalf to ensure that these important principles are upheld. Although not an electorate MP, I believe all MPs have a responsibility to represent and advocate for the people in their communities.