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Peter Ellis
web site - Christchurch crèche case |
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ACC's refusal to pay
compensation to a rape victim (Herald, Mar 15) underlines the sheer stupidity
of the legislation enacted by the present Labour Government. The scheme is
illogically based on believed-in, but unspecified mental injuries, supposedly
caused by sexual abuse. ACC annually pays
millions of dollars to thousands of sexual abuse claimants and their
counsellors, commonly in the absence of credible evidence of such abuse or
mental injury, or conviction of the alleged attackers. Some claim permanent
disability, have counselling for years, and also get huge lump-sum payments. Here is a woman who was
actually raped and suffered obvious physical injuries. Her attacker was
convicted. She cannot get lump-sum
compensation, apparently because the attack occurred before the legislation
took effect, and because her injuries were not considered to be permanent. ACC's deranged rules
must be changed to require proof of abuse through conviction of the abuser.
The woman in question would then rightfully qualify for compensation, but thousands
of other undeserving claims, based on fanciful but unproven stories of abuse,
would correctly be rejected. |
