Bikoi - ACC Protest Rally, Parliament, Wellington

BIKOI09 was a historic event

Over 5000 motorcycles of all descriptions joined the convoy to ride in and we estimate another 1000 or so went straight to Parliament. The stadium concourse was literally full of motorcycles and it was both the biggest and the most peaceful protest Parliament has ever seen.

We need to protest - as a nation - what ACC is doing. Tell your friends what is going on - see below.

Yours and my car levies will have increased an average of about 50% a year over three years, plus whatever increase they settle on for my motorcycle.

Our work levies will increase hundreds of dollars a year, silently siphoned from our pay.

Why?

To add to the surplus ACC is taking in EVERY year - last year it took in $4.1b in levies and paid out only $3.1billion in claims and its own running costs. That's a billion dollars spare to bank. Would that you or I had that sort of problem!!

To add to the $11billion ACC has in the bank/investments. Do any of us agree with the guesstimates that say it is in deficit because of actuarial smoke and mirrors? Having 3x what you spend each year as reserves is a pretty solid position. Especially if you invest in injury prevention to reduce future costs.

Why would you need to build up the family silver in the bank, and come up with estimates that pretend to a deficit? Do they intend to sell the ACC silver at a discount?

Have your say

- return ACC to "pay as you go" with a maximum of around three times annual operating costs in reserves as a buffer.

- ensure people can continue to access treatment to return to healthy and productive lives.

- clean up any rorts, but don't break the system and stop these enormous increases in our levies.

- classify and charge all private motor vehicles the same - motorcyclists typically pay at least twice anyway as almost all have cars and they can't use both vehicles at once!

- let's make sure ACC doesn't get broken, when it isn't broke, to make it easier to sell the family silver in 'privatisation' deals!

TELL GOVERNMENT AND ACC to SLOW DOWN and STOP TRYING TO PULL THE WOOL OVER OUR EYES.

For Motorcyclists, we should submit that any amendments:

- create one category only for all private motor vehicles, whether 2-wheeled or 4-wheeled (or even 3 for all you trikers out there) (with a possible lower category for classic vehicles).

- amend the legislation so that full funding means covering current claims - reverting to "pay as we go" instead of building up funds for ACC to invest.

Use www.bikersagainstacc.org.nz or accfutures.org.nz to check on other ideas!

The Bill below proposes further measures to reduce cover. Why shouldn't we remain covered for work-related deafness, disease or infection? Shouldn't people exposed to chemicals, asbestos, etc through work remain clearly covered for that - isn't that why they and their employers pay levies? Is it fair to change the conditions so that someone can lose ACC wage cover by being judged recovered to do a job with a fraction of the skills and pay from before their accident for only 30 hours a week? Or cutting proper cover for work injuries for seasonal work? The proposed risk changes will increase the costs of administration and lawyers and reduce cover. Let's just all pay the same for private motor vehicles, and simplify some of the system.

Kia ora

The Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill is a major threat to the integrity of New Zealand's no-fault accident compensation scheme. Here is a guide to writing a submission to the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee which is considering the Bill.

http://www.greens.org.nz/factsheets/submission-guide-injury-prevention-rehabilitation-and-compensation-amendment-bill

Submissions close 26 November 2009, so get in quick if you want to have your say.

I am hoping you will consider making a submission opposing this Bill, and have prepared a submission guide to assist with this.

If you have any inquiries regarding making a submission, feel free to emailsocialjustice@greens.org.nz

Kevin Hague
Green Party ACC Spokesperson

Bill: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2009/0090/9.0/versions.aspx

This is the official website of WIMA, the Women's International Motorcycling Association. The views and comments are those of individuals and should not be taken as the official opinion of WIMA, its officers or member as a whole.