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By John Gibb
Injured fisherman Darryl Kay took his one-man protest against ACC red tape to the streets of Dunedin yesterday, parking a red ribbon-draped car outside ACC headquarters in Maclaggan St.
A child's suitcase, draped in red ribbons, sat on the bonnet of the borrowed Toyota car, a nearby placard declaring: "Another ACC Case Wrapped Up."
Mr Kay (42), a second mate with more than 15 years fishing experience, initially badly broke his left arm in a motorcycle accident in Dunedin in 2001.
Because of his injury, which later required a second operation, he was able to make only one further fishing trip during the next two years, although ACC earnings-related compensation protected his income, which, in a normal year, ranged from $90,000 to $100,000, Mr Kay said.
In a normal year he was away from home for up to six months on fishing trips, working about 84 hours a week.
Earlier this year, he resumed fishing, but on his second trip, in June, he fell on a boat while fishing off the West Coast, slashing tendons in four fingers of his right hand.
Because of a limited recent earnings history, ACC assessed his compensation at $235 a week.
His savings were almost gone and he and his wife Daile, and 9-year-old twins Brooke and Dillan, were coming under growing financial pressure, he said.
"It's ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous," he said.
He had paid high ACC levies through his work, but his compensation had been assessed at less than the married unemployment benefit.
After talking to his case officer at the Dunedin ACC office at 9am yesterday, and achieving no further progress, he began his protest, which he maintained throughout the day.
ACC spokesman Richard Braddell, of Wellington, said ACC could not comment on the circumstances of a particular individual without their written consent.
Weekly compensation entitlements were set by legislation and ACC had no discretion over their application, Mr Braddell said.
For self-employed and shareholder employees, entitlements were determined according to their declared taxable income in the most recently completed tax year before the injury or incapacity, he said.
The Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill (No 3) was now before Parliament. That proposed legislation would give ACC more flexibility in considering a self-employed person's total earnings from all sources, he said.
Tuesday, 7-September 2004
http://www.odt.co.nz...=2004/07Sep2004
Taking a stand . . . Injured fisherman Darryl Kay (with bandaged fingers) protests outside Dunedin ACC headquarters yesterday.
PHOTO: JANE DAWBER
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