What the Labour Party are doing?

[Ms Piggy]

I just got a personal reply to an email I sent to Ruth Dyson due to her knowing my Aunty (Pinky Agnew - who btw wants to help us out however she can).

From Ruth Dyson:
Sigh - we sure have a Nat/Act govt!! We (all Labour team) will be asking David Parker to formally reply on our behalf. Because you are not only related to Pinky but also under described her - ie just "fabulous". - thought I would let you know straight away that we are on your side on this (and demonstrated by our nine years of fair levy setting) - and also that I am a fan of Pinky and also of T, her brother.
Best wishes,
Ruth

[SixPackBack]

I just got a personal reply to an email I sent to Ruth Dyson due to her knowing my Aunty (Pinky Agnew - who btw wants to help us out however she can).

From Ruth Dyson:

The term 'hypocrite' comes to mind. Ruth Dyson was caught drink driving in 2000........getting her involved in the ACC fight 'on our side' is not a good look.

[Skyryder]

[QUOTE=Ms Piggy;1129468536]I just got a personal reply to an email I sent to Ruth Dyson due to her knowing my Aunty (Pinky Agnew - who btw wants to help us out however she can).



With all due respect Miss Piggy I don't see any curve balls coming from Labour. Unless they can come up with something other than what they would have done...........and SBP makes a good point?? Dyson has been compromised in this issue and all others where safety is concerned.

Skyryder

[sAsLEX]

From Ruth Dyson:

(and demonstrated by our nine years of fair levy setting)

Hmmmm I wonder why ACC is in the state its in? 9 years of mismanagement, or the short time Nat has been up there?

[Grumpy]

The term 'hypocrite' comes to mind. Ruth Dyson was caught drink driving in 2000........getting her involved in the ACC fight 'on our side' is not a good look.

I don't have the best of memories but wasn't Ruth Dyson the MP that helped stop ACC hiking our levies back in '93?

[StoneY]

Hmmmm I wonder why ACC is in the state its in? 9 years of mismanagement, or the short time Nat has been up there?

You have missed the post where ACC's creator states that the National govt of 98 created today's situation, my friend?

:)

Its the way the 'new' method of prediction of earnings applies that gets us this 'shortfall' one that we did not have (nowhere as bad I should say) with the way it had been managed ill last year....

An observation only

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=110397

[Brian d marge]

Friend of the family's too is she

I think my mum stood for the alliance in order to take votes away from david ( nice but dim) carter

in order that Ruth could win the seat

Sorry but even Judge Dread has said on National Radio that the management team of ACC have been quite good

Yes the scope has increased , such as Champlerbacter ( sp)a disease caught when you handle chickens I believe , has only recently been made a work related injury ,,,

Dont get me started on the meat works , where a blunt knife and line speeds can give you a might hard time

either way the more weight the better

Stephen

[rainman]

Hmmmm I wonder why ACC is in the state its in? 9 years of mismanagement, or the short time Nat has been up there?

Or maybe the dire situation presented by Nick Smith (with Rodney waiting in the wings rubbing his hands with glee) isn't actually, y'know, true?

Labour's been a bit slow moving on this issue (and a bunch of others, lately). Some of the message is starting to get through on their blog though: http://blog.labour.org.nz/index.php/2009/10/19/barbaras-bike/

[Mully]

Can we please try not to make this issue a National/Labour thing?

Let's not pretend that Labour would not have done the same had they been in power (remember they hid the extent of the ACC issue prior to the election)

I think it's important that we don't let the parties divide and conquer us.

I'm happy to use the politicians for our purposes, but I think we have to make sure they don't use us for their purposes.

[Digitdion]

Can we please try not to make this issue a National/Labour thing?

Let's not pretend that Labour would not have done the same had they been in power (remember they hid the extent of the ACC issue prior to the election)

I think it's important that we don't let the parties divide and conquer us.

I'm happy to use the politicians for our purposes, but I think we have to make sure they don't use us for their purposes.

Couldn't agree more. Lets end this fruitless banter, and focus on the real issue. And if you can not bloody control your political prowess,well, at least save it till the next election.

[Ms Piggy]

getting her involved in the ACC fight 'on our side' is not a good look.
It was more just to let everyone know what Labour are doing not suggest Ruth Dyson get involved. But, a very good point!

[SixPackBack]

It was more just to let everyone know what Labour are doing not suggest Ruth Dyson get involved. But, a very good point!

I dislike all politicians, self serving wretched souls they be, but if motorcyclists can garner their services succesfully then so be it.

Dyson's DIC charge could bite-best to keep that in mind.

[James Deuce]

ACC is making money. They have loss leaders i.e. road users, and profit centres especially their investment team.

There is nothing wrong with ACC's financial performance. It is the only government portfolio making money. National have decided that we're thick enough to believe that all aspects of a successful commercial operation make money, and that the ACC shoul dbe run on commercial models. You know, lose billions of dollars and pay management large bonuses. At least ACT and the Maori Party haven't fallen for that yet.

With all due respect to Agnews everywhere Labour didn't go there with levys because they had no intention of getting rid of ACC where National will do everything they can to privatise it, despite failing last time around and driving an Australian insurer or two into bankruptcy. How Ms Dyson can describe singling motorcyclists out for a separate levy as "fair" is beyond me. "Fair" would be an insurance levy on Home & Contents insurance to cover DIYers, cooking accidents, and falling over in the bath.

[shrub]

Hmmmm I wonder why ACC is in the state its in? 9 years of mismanagement, or the short time Nat has been up there?

ACC aren't actually in the shit at all, it's all a game played with smoke and mirrors and changing the way ACC are required to fund themselves - ACC are now required to be able to fund accidents in the future. My guess is the orders have come to fill the coffers in preperation for a sale so the new (probably foreign) owner has a valuable asset. Then they will charge us all market rates and us naughty, DANGEROUS bikers will have to pay what they calculate we cost them to fix us (using their accountants). Privatisation will mean you'll either have to pay squillions in ACC levies (think thousands) or cover your own accident injury costs and not get money if you're off work.

It's all good. Except for us.

[PrincessBandit]

ACC aren't actually in the shit at all, it's all a game played with smoke and mirrors and changing the way ACC are required to fund themselves - ACC are now required to be able to fund accidents in the future. My guess is the orders have come to fill the coffers in preperation for a sale ....



Not to mention all the crashes they'll be anticipating if the give way rules change again. (Which apparently DIDNT happen in Melbourne when they abolished the "give way to the right" back in '93).

[jim.cox]

(Which apparently DIDNT happen in Melbourne when they abolished the "give way to the right" back in '93).

Yeah? Maybe?

But just look what happened to those poor Samoans when they changed the side of the road on which they drive :whistle: :)

[James Deuce]

Not to mention all the crashes they'll be anticipating if the give way rules change again. (Which apparently DIDNT happen in Melbourne when they abolished the "give way to the right" back in '93).
Changing the road rules from, "Oo do I have to give way here or does he?" to "Don't pull out in front of traffic" can only be a good thing IMO.

[PrincessBandit]

Changing the road rules from, "Oo do I have to give way here or does he?" to "Don't pull out in front of traffic" can only be a good thing IMO.

Totally agree. However I despair of how many drivers will actually still plow through uncontrolled intersections on auto pilot rather than thinking along the lines which you've just mentioned. Maybe I'm just being pessimistic.

[sAsLEX]

You have missed the post where ACC's creator states that the National govt of 98 created today's situation, my friend?

:)


Oh...... its good to see Labour doing something about it now then...... now that they are out of power rather than over the last near decade.

[NighthawkNZ]

Hmmmm I wonder why ACC is in the state its in? 9 years of mismanagement, or the short time Nat has been up there?

ACC is not broke, nor is it loosing money... despite Nick Smith’s bureaucratic bullshit all this is coming from changing from a pay as you go to a fully funded

http://www.thestandard.org.nz/first-manufacture-a-crisis/

[Ender EnZed]

Can we please try not to make this issue a National/Labour thing?

It is a government thing. National is the Government right now, Labour is the Opposition. If you're opposed to the Government then, like it or not, you have something in common with Labour right now.

[Mully]

It is a government thing. National is the Government right now, Labour is the Opposition. If you're opposed to the Government then, like it or not, you have something in common with Labour right now.

Well, yeah, kinda. But you've missed my point.

The issue we are facing needs all those affected to present a common front. If we spend our time bikering ("Labour fucked up ACC", "National only want to privatise ACC") and muddying the waters instead of focusing on the issue, this'll sneak through and bugger us in the (collective) arse. And probably continue buggering us, because successive Governments will see that riders are all an easy target and everytime they want to milk some more money, they'll hit riders again.

KB discussions (on anything involving the Government or a Government Agency) tend to dissolve very quickly into a National/Labour thing. I think it's important to try make sure everybody stays focussed.

Plus being opposed to the Government on one issue isn't the same as being opposed to the Government generally (for whatever reason you choose).

By all means, get Labour/Greens/Maori in on our side, but don't let them derail the issue for their own petty points.

[Ender EnZed]

Well, yeah, kinda. But you've missed my point.

The issue we are facing needs all those affected to present a common front. If we spend our time bikering ("Labour fucked up ACC", "National only want to privatise ACC") and muddying the waters instead of focusing on the issue, this'll sneak through and bugger us in the (collective) arse. And probably continue buggering us, because successive Governments will see that riders are all an easy target and everytime they want to milk some more money, they'll hit riders again.

KB discussions (on anything involving the Government or a Government Agency) tend to dissolve very quickly into a National/Labour thing. I think it's important to try make sure everybody stays focussed.

I agree.



By all means, get Labour/Greens/Maori in on our side, but don't let them derail the issue for their own petty points.

As far as I'm aware they really haven't had a chance yet. (The petty points part, haven't seen much positive action/attention either)

I just think that any pollies that will get riled up for our cause are likely to come from the side of the House that Nick Smith isn't on.


Plus being opposed to the Government on one issue isn't the same as being opposed to the Government generally (for whatever reason you choose).

Even if this hasn't blown over by 2011 there'll need to be some fairly serious baby eating scandals for National to be threatened with the way the polls are at the moment (and have been for quite a while) anyway.

[Mully]

As far as I'm aware they really haven't had a chance yet. (The petty points part, haven't seen much positive action/attention either)

I just think that any pollies that will get riled up for our cause are likely to come from the side of the House that Nick Smith isn't on.

Mmm, I notice none of the "opposition" parties have said anything meaningful on this subject.

While I think Labour would be doing something similar if they were in, they should be screaming blue murder.


Even if this hasn't blown over by 2011 there'll need to be some fairly serious baby eating scandals for National to be threatened with the way the polls are at the moment (and have been for quite a while) anyway.

I agree. Although if Labour ditch Goff shorty, they might be able to have a chance.

[Ms Piggy]

With all due respect to Agnews everywhere

Thanks Mr.2. Good points.

[Ender EnZed]

While I think Labour would be doing something similar if they were in

Probably. But they're not and they aren't.


they should be screaming blue murder.

Definitely. I don't think there could be any idealogical opposition to ACC not being messed with and us not getting shafted with massive levies. They only need to complain, not fix any real problems anyway. It's not impossible they don't realise this issue this could be beneficial for them. If they don't respond to the Bikeoi then we can give up on that path.

:2thumbsup Ms Piggy for making an effort to get them involved, a bit of continued prodding of the Opposition from bikers wouldn't go amiss.

[pete376403]

Pretty hared to keep the National / Labour thing out of it when:
1. Right wing (ie National & ACT) are philosophically opposed to state ownership of ACC and
2. The dubious calculations that are being applied to make it look like ACC is loosing money hand over fist is largely intended to set up ACC for privatisation.

[pete376403]

and this is Chris Hipkins reply to my email:
Thanks Peter

I'm with you on this one. You might be interested in the statement my colleague Rick Barker put out yesterday (pasted below).

We will keep the pressure on the National government about this. In my view it does not make sense at all.

I'm very concerned about the way they are approaching ACC in general. I think they are using these kinds of changes to ACC as a way of building resentment towards the system so that they can privatise it.

Labour's ACC spokesperson David Parker has set out alternative changes to the scheme that would not result in these huge levy increases. Unfortunately the National government have rejected them.

Chris

-------

Government moves will prejudice motorcyclists

Most bikers will see the Government’s plans to hike up motorcycle levies as irrefutable proof of the prejudice in the system against motorcyclists, says Labour MP Rick Barker.

"The decision, announced by ACC Minister Nick Smith yesterday, is arbitrary on a number of fronts.

"The cut-off points in terms of cc ratings don’t take into account the relative power of motorcycles," says Rick Barker.

"It is incompetent to treat a vintage 650cc motorcycle, which wheezes and gasps down the road as more dangerous than a 250cc modern bike capable of doing more than 200kph.

"The proposed changes also ignore the fact that many motorcyclists own multiple bikes. I have friends who own up to seven bikes, each for different purposes: off-road, trail, touring and collectables – and they could end up paying about $5000 just to ride their bikes. They can only ride one at a time.

"They will probably have to go the bank manager to ride their bikes, if Nick Smith has his way, to try to afford to pay the levies," Rick Barker says.

"The decision undermines the no-fault aspect of the ACC Scheme, particularly when most motorcycle accidents are caused by cars.

"How is it fair that a motorcyclist is knocked off their bike by a car and then charged much higher levies for the experience? This means the victim pays.

"Motorcyclists are of the view that there should be no distinction between them and car users," Rick Barker says.

"This plan is to simply drive bikes off the road, despite the fact they are more environmentally friendly than cars and help to reduce carbon emissions.

"Surely the solution is not encouraging the use of three-tonne four wheel drive planet-thrashers?"

[SPman]

(remember they hid the extent of the ACC issue prior to the election)

What issue?

ACC are fine, they aren't going to go bust anytime soon, they are bringing in more than enough to cover all their outgoings.
The "extent" of the issue is a lengthening of the time to build up a stockpile to pay for future claims if no money comes in. Unless all the long termers are going to be paid 30 yrs entitlements now, that is......

Sheesh!

At least ACT and the Maori Party haven't fallen for that yet.

and as for the Maori "Uncle Tom" party.....:buggerd:........just how low will they crawl to suck up to a bunch of rich white guys who think they're shit.....so they can be "in the government"

The Labour Party and the Greens look as if they couldn't organise brooms in a cupboard, at the moment.....