Greens want ACC extended to cover sickness

James Shaw, Green Party Co-leader

As part of the announcement of its tax policy, the party said it would extend the ACC scheme to cover lost earnings from illness – not just accidents, as is currently the case.

Payments would be made at up to 80% of a worker’s salary or 80% of the full-time minimum wage, whichever was higher.

People are more likely to be off work for an extended period through illness than injury but most cannot qualify for a benefit if they live with a partner who is in work.

That gap has been something that private insurers have sought to provide New Zealanders with cover for.