Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 44 No. 9. May 4 1981
Students Affected Even more
Students Affected Even more
More importantly for students, this could severely disadvantage the university student health services, which presently derive a significant part of their income from the ACC. If they were to lose the income derived from first and second accident consultations, they would have to charge students directly, increase their annual levies, or apply to their respective university administrations for more funds.
A significant percentage of students who use the Health Services do so because of an injury resulting from an accident so the effect on these services would be a major one if the Bill is passed.
Another cut the bill proposes that will affect students specifically is the removal of the section which deals with "lump sum compensation for pain and suffering and for loss of enjoyment of life". This means that permanently injured people who are not workers, such as students, would receive no compensation except in very limited circumstances. They would only be covered by section 118 which provides for potential earners. Only certain types of students who have a job arranged to start within six months of their accident would receive compensation. It should also be pointed out that removal of section 120 would have the effect that housewives and retired people would not be covered by the ACC scheme at all.