13 Sep 2012

MP names specialists allegedly favoured by ACC

8:31 pm on 13 September 2012

The Green Party has used parliamentary privilege to name four doctors allegedly favoured by ACC to get claimants off its books.

The current affairs television programme 60 Minutes screened at the weekend claimed that the specialists are regularly used and flown around New Zealand by the Accident Compensation Corporation to make their assessments.

ACC Minister Judith Collins has ordered a report into the claims.

On Thursday, Greens ACC spokesperson Kevin Hague used Parliament's Question Time to name the specialists as Martin Robb, Vic du Plessis, Bill Turner and David Beaumont.

Mr Hague asked Ms Collins if she believes an ordinary person would consider it possible that medical advisers like the doctors named could remain independent of ACC when they are each paid between $300,000 and $500,000 a year.

Ms Collins said she would be discussing with ACC's new board how it can have medical assessments that can be seen as independent by both ACC clients and the corporation.