Paul O’Connor Comment continued Obituary CEO, Comcare

Thus, while our survey supports our current Sir Owen inspired people across views, the unreported data may well be all generations. He was professionally consistent with the voice of dissent, once an A Man for generous, polite and warm. He connected inaudible whisper but no longer so. people. Many are wiser and deeply richer In light of this, I believe it to be important Others: for him being so. I am fortunate to be one that the Actuaries Institute and accredited of them, even though our connection was universities work together to collect better A Tribute to in his later years. I drew from the well, quality data so our marketing campaigns Sir Owen Woodhouse professionally and personally. are better informed in order that we offer a Sir Owen was a man who lived for more balanced view to our target audience. I others. Former Prime Minister, the Rt also see it as being consistent with actuarial Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer QC, a mentee, Kua hinga te totara I te wao practice in making decisions and judgment recalls Sir Owen’s compassion for people using credible data. nui a Tane as his most salient characteristic. His gift To my knowledge, attempts have been (A great Totara tree has fallen of friendship, Sir Geoffrey eulogised, “… made in the past to create a database in the forest of Tane) inspired enormous loyalty and affection to track the career progression of our among those with whom he interacted members, albeit with limited success. and worked.” It reflected his earlier Universities encounter the right censoring comments to a journalist that Sir Owen problem, as the alumni database is had “…great human compassion, a incomplete. The progress of these graduates wonderful social conscience and a great is lost gradually over time when they move feeling for people.” overseas or simply do not update their Praise has flowed from leaders across details. The Actuaries Institute faces the the spectrum of New Zealand politics. left censoring problem, as members join Descriptions of Sir Owen as the ‘father’ gradually and their history is unknown. of New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Those who join the Institute are more Commission (the ACC) reflect the respect engaged with the actuarial profession. he engendered. The report that led to I see opportunities in developing a the ACC’s formation was the product of a collaborative project between the Actuaries Royal Commission of Inquiry into personal Institute and the accredited universities to injury in New Zealand. A ground-breaking combine their data to track the professional legal reform, it was described by Sir progress of our actuarial members and Geoffrey Palmer as brilliant, innovative students. This database will not only yield and revolutionary. valuable information to guide our marketing Sir Owen recommended the campaigns, but in policy setting and introduction of universal coverage for strategic direction for the Actuaries Institute personal injury around the clock and one and universities. We can better identify areas which preserves the no-fault principle for improvement in social engagement, Photo courtesy of NZ Accident Compensation Corporation for the payment of compensation. education programs and continual He designed, with two co-authors, a professional development. The Actuaries he recent death of Sir Owen statutory scheme of support providing Institute may be able to track which areas Woodhouse – war hero, legal rehabilitation and compensation. As a of practice are growing or waning, thus luminary, great thinker, social practical response to the toll of personal resources can be effectively allocated to T reformer and humanist – has injury, he thought people affected develop our footprint in the areas where caused many in New Zealand and afar to deserved “…a co-ordinated response from more actuaries are being engaged. stop and reflect on the contribution of this the nation as a whole.” Describing the This project is no small feat, by any great man to their community and their then common law system as a lottery, means. The mission (should we choose to lives. Like the Maori proverb, or whakatauki, he lamented, “Such a fragmented and accept it) will involve us identifying our aims, the falling of a large tree in the forest, Sir capricious response to a social problem formulating an operation plan and raising Owen’s death leaves a wake. which cries out for co-ordinated and funds, employing the right people and Sir Owen’s legacy of social reform and comprehensive treatment cannot be technology and meeting research protocols. judicial activism is legendary, a national good enough. No economic reason The ongoing nature of this project will treasure. His impact on people was justifies it.” require dedication, a clear vision and reliable profound, positive and enduring. It makes 40 years after the ACC’s establishment, administrative support to guarantee success. you think about the nature of great leaders. a University of symposium To conclude, the future lies in our What makes them special? And what gets marked the occasion. Sir Edmund Thomas, understanding of the past of our members, in the way of each of us doing more to help a judge of New Zealand’s Court of Appeal,

aspiring members and those whom we have build a stronger community and support recounted his 1969 assessment of the o n C or p ati o n C o mp e nsati id e nt Acc

lost along the way. Are we ready? those in need? Woodhouse report: NZ ©

38 Actuaries June 2014 Obituary continued

“This beautifully crafted Report is the how a national insurance-based scheme government in late 1975 meant the work of a man with a deep-rooted social would support people seriously affected by Parliament was prorogued. Lost in the conscience fully aware of the needs and accident, illness or disability. It was reflected controversy was the now important aspirations of the common man and in E.G. Whitlam’s 1972 policy speech where realisation that all bills had lapsed. A woman. His Report reflects his vision of a he undertook to establish a national conservative caretaker government was more humane, harmonious and responsible compensation scheme. Sir Owen was elected but it had no policy appetite for society. As such, it represents the most far- supported in his work by another veteran Sir Owen’s ideas. He recounted late last reaching exhortation to the community to of the Second World War, the Hon Justice year how, diverting his return to Auckland engage significantly with those who are less Charles Meares of the New South Wales from business in Geneva, he stopped fortunate since the enactment of the Social Supreme Court. by Canberra to meet the new Minister Security Act in 1938. The comprehensive and From 1972 to 1974, the ground work responsible for social welfare programs, unified scheme which he advances to replace of research, planning and community Senator the Hon (later Dame) Margaret a fragmented and capricious response to the consultation paved the way for the Guilfoyle, but to no avail. problem of personal injury is conveyed with Woodhouse report to be tabled. Sir Geoffrey While Sir Owen’s ideas were shelved and clarity, cogency and cohesiveness that few, Palmer was plucked from his teaching post in the project team disbanded during 1976, if any, authors could emulate.” Charlottesville, Virginia to assist Sir Owen in the Hon Lionel Bowen and E.G. Whitlam his work on the Australian plan. Sir Geoffrey introduced a private member’s bill in It was fine praise. In closing the symposium, recently described it as ‘a tough time’ as February 1977. The Fraser Government did Sir Edmund, once a Visiting Fellow at the they encountered entrenched and strident not allow a vote. Australian National University, commented: resistance across Australia. It’s a period It’s clear that the impact of the nicely summarised in Mark Robinson’s 1986 Woodhouse thinking pervaded many of the “Nothing that has transpired can diminish review of Australian accident compensation, accident compensation reforms to emerge the brilliance of the Report itself and the but Sir Geoffrey’s earlier account from 1979, in Australia over the last four decades. For profound impact it has had on social, Compensation for Incapacity, offers the example, Victoria’s then Motor Accident political, legal and economic thinking. Its richness of his personal insight. Board was established in 1974 to provide, for enactment by a Government subjected to Like in New Zealand, two stages were the first time, no-fault compensation arising hostile pressures from vested interests envisaged for the Australian reform. The from car crashes. It later morphed into has not been replicated anywhere in first part, protection for injury from accident, today’s Transport Accident Commission. the common law world. Elsewhere, self- led to the creation in New Zealand of its More recently, the establishment of the interested pressure groups have proved too Accident Compensation Corporation. The National Disability Insurance Scheme has strong and too vocal.” second part – protection from illness or brought to life the concepts of ‘that decent disability – languished and remains so. fellow feeling’ embodied in Sir Owen’s Interestingly, Sir Owen himself felt greater E.G. Whitlam insisted that both elements reforms. public value was derived from his earlier – accident and illness – be incorporated New Zealand’s current Prime Minister, work, with others, on a committee of enquiry from the outset. That led to inevitable delay the Rt Hon described Sir Owen as that led to the fluoridation of New Zealand’s as the scale of the reform was breathtaking. a man whose life exemplified public service. water supply, a significant and initially Its size, complexity and cost, controversy It’s truly so. Hearing the wonderful tributes controversial public health reform. and impact needed careful analysis, debate to Sir Owen’s leadership and public influence A series of New Zealand governments and reflection. Eminent actuary Professor at his funeral service helps one reflect on have played with the structure, programs Richard Madden, then a statistician, was purpose and recommit to public service. and impact of the ACC over the years since part of the team working on the reform Equally inspiring were the eulogies from his its establishment in 1972. Each iteration led by the luminary, Professor John Pollard, family that spoke of his impact, the father, interprets Sir Owen’s architectural intent. who went on to his influential career at the wise and caring man whose sage advice Sir Owen’s death has generated significant Macquarie University. deeply shaped so many in his family and comment and reflection on the journey and E.G. Whitlam described the final report in community. public value of the ACC and the work of its his narrative, The Whitlam Government 1972- Sir Geoffrey Palmer eulogised that what people. The debate will continue in earnest 1975, in the following terms: we acknowledge and celebrate about Sir as we approach the 50th anniversary of the Owen Woodhouse was, “…not merely a good delivery of the report of the Woodhouse “The judge’s report was one of the most life, it was a great one.” Its greatness was Royal Commission in mid-December 1967. convincing and stimulating reports ever captured nicely in the reflections of the Chief The Australian chapter of Sir Owen’s presented to the Parliament.” Justice, the Rt Hon Dame Sian Ellis when she journey dates from the early 1970s. His spoke of Sir Owen’s “deep engagement in proposed radical reform of New Zealand’s Enabling legislation was drafted and mankind”. accident compensation system had passed the lower house in October 1975. As Sir Owen would write in his sparked interest and intrigue from the then Senate committees struggled with the cost valediction to those dear to him, “Be kind opposition leader, the Hon E.G. Whitlam, QC. implications as they worked through the and good”. So we will, sir, knowing the In government, Mr Whitlam thought ‘it time’ issues late in the spring of 1975. things that are right and how they must be to boldly task Sir Owen to similarly define The dismissal of the Whitlam done. Vale, Sir Owen.

June 2014 Actuaries 39