Peter Ellis web site -
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When introducing the current ACC
legislation, Dr Cullen (then Minister of ACC) assured me that sexual abuse
claimants were entitled to counselling and, where the conditions are met, a
once-only lump-sum payment of between $2,500 and $100,000. That claimants can
now obtain weekly compensation based on 80 percent of their assessed earnings
is indefensible. Incredibly, claimants are not
required to provide proof of alleged abuse. Counsellors uncritically believe
that client narratives are historically and factually correct. ACC believes
the myth that counsellors can determine whether sexual crimes were committed,
without external investigation or the involvement of the police and the
Courts. On this bizarre basis, ACC has received about 100,000 claims. Certification that the claimant
genuinely suffered permanent mental impairment is required. But, illogically,
ACC admits that no causal link between sexual abuse and any specific
psychiatric, psychological or behavioural condition has been scientifically
shown to exist. It is irresponsible of the present
ACC Minister, Ruth Dyson, to continue to allow ACC to accept claims without
proof of abuse and consequential permanent mental injury, and a conviction. |