Legislation making controversial changes to New Zealand’s publicly owned Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has passed its first reading in parliament by a vote of 69 to 53. The new law makes it harder for victims of sexual abuse to get ACC funded counselling, requiring them to be diagnosed with a mental injury first. This proposed change was met with wide spread protest across the country last week. When the was was passed yesterday a 4000-strong petition against the changes was delivered to Parliament and Eliana Darroch, an Auckland woman who is a member of the the End Rape Culture NOW! Collective began a hunger strike protesting the cuts.

We will not tolerate these cuts and will do everything in our power to stop them. The National Party government is to blame for most of these changes. Because of their plans to cost-cut and privatise public services, rape and sexual abuse survivors will have more hurdles to jump through to get the support they need.

The government seems to have made some concession to growing opposition movement, which includes abuse survivors, counsellors, health workers and others. ACC Minister Nick Smith has instructed the board of ACC to report on the changes regarding abuse victims at the end of six months. Psychotherapist Kyle MacDonald told the Dominion Post that this was a start but the new guidelines should be put on hold until after a thorough assessment.
Recently 500 motorcyclists protested in Nelson, under the new law their levys are set to rise 300%. Other changes include ending coverage for suicide and self-harm, stopping compensation for serious criminals and reducing payments made to injured seasonal workers. The government is also looking at opening up the scheme to competition from private insurance companies.