The cat just jumped out of the bag

[rok-the-boat]

Maybe this is what it is all about - not bikes per se - they kick up a big fuss, and then want us to think that privatizing ACC will be the 'final solution'.

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/6375296/wider-competition-for-acc-to-be-considered/


The Government is open to wider competition in ACC than just the work account if that is recommended by an expert group considering the issue.

ACT and National this afternoon announced they had reached a deal where the minor party will support a government bill making changes to ACC and in return work would start on opening ACC to competition.

The ACC Stocktake Group, expected to deliver an interim report in February, would be asked to look at the competition issue. Blah blah blah.

[Sam I Am]

same story running in stuff.co.nz link>
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2991199/National-and-ACT-in-ACC-deal

but it states QUOTE:

"I am pleased the Government has secured support for this critical legislation from both the Maori Party and from ACT that will see ACC's proposed levies reduced by half," Dr Smith said.

end quote

ONLY HALF !!! THATS STILL A HUGE HIKE FOR US..

[sleemanj]

ONLY HALF !!! THATS STILL A HUGE HIKE FOR US..

This is not about motorcycle levies, this is the hikes in earner/employer levies. The motorcycle ones are still as announced.

[MacD]

Why are people surprised about this!? It was National Party policy prior to the last election.

Or do people not really know what they are voting for?

[short-circuit]

Why are people surprised about this!? It was National Party policy prior to the last election.

Or do people not really know what they are voting for?

Pre-fucken-cisely.

[pete376403]

Moari party are going to get some bad feedback from their electorate - a whole lot of them are going to have to find alternate sources of income, once the ACC rug is pulled from beneath them

[FJRider]

Moari party are going to get some bad feedback from their electorate - a whole lot of them are going to have to find alternate sources of income, once the ACC rug is pulled from beneath them

List MP's don't have electorate's ...

[dipshit]

Not paying for the ACC option and not having your own private cover may mean no cover whatsoever.

So for those of you thinking of just riding without registration anyhow - be prepared for spending the rest of your life paying off that $80,000. hospital bill.

[riffer]

List MP's don't have electorate's ...

I think Pete meant to say constituents.

[NighthawkNZ]

Not paying for the ACC option or having your own private cover may mean no cover whatsoever.

So for those of you thinking of just riding without registration anyhow - be prepared for spending the rest of your life paying off that $80,000. hospital bill.

technically they still pay ACC via PAYE and fuel, and if they have other vehicles...

[FJRider]

I think Pete meant to say constituents.

A Constituent is a member of a Constituency.

A constituency is an area represented by a Member of Parliament.

List MP's do not represent ANY area.... not even the area they live in.

[Blue TLS]

Yes that was the plan all along, John Key wants us to give all our money to his insurance buddies and I bet he still has a couple of fingers in that pie

[scissorhands]

ACC is now an ugly old whore anyways.

I'm over paying for other drongoes who are unco, and speeders high on shit

And scammers with bad backs

And councillors and therapists milking the system, some of those people give me the willies.

[kwaka_crasher]

List MP's don't have electorate's ...


A Constituent is a member of a Constituency.

A constituency is an area represented by a Member of Parliament.

List MP's do not represent ANY area.... not even the area they live in.

But Maori Party MPs are all electorate not list.

[MacD]

ACC is now an ugly old whore anyways.


This is just dogma, as is the assertion that competition will reduce costs for coverage. It may for certain individuals, or even certain companies, but overseas systems, including in Australia, cost more overall.

From the PriceWaterhouseCoopers 2008 Report into ACC


The ACC employer contribution rate as a proportion of wages is
substantially lower (0.78% at June 2007) than in comparable
Australian workers compensation schemes (NSW 1.86%, Victoria
1.38%, Australian average 2%). The overall cost of ACC is quite low
even after adjustment for coverage (eg common law access) and
other known differences, and is also low relative to other
international systems (Canada average 2%).
ACC motor vehicle contribution levels are also significantly lower
than all Australian states.

Everybody should read the PWC report attached before making their minds up about the benefits of competition or privatisation of ACC.

[short-circuit]

This is just dogma, as is the assertion that competition will reduce costs for coverage. It may for certain individuals, or even certain companies, but overseas systems, including in Australia, cost more overall.

From the PriceWaterhouseCoopers 2008 Report into ACC


Everybody should read the PWC report attached before making their minds up about the benefits of competition or privatisation of ACC.

Private insurers will all hike their premiums in unison over time and slash eligibility criterea. That is how privatisation works.

NZers are so gullible - they wanted "a change" with this government and pursued it blindly.

[rok-the-boat]

Fact is though - ACC can't manage its books. They are firing 500 admin staff from hospitals too - they can't manage their books either. Government always fails at business oriented projects as they tend to pay whatever people demand. At the other end, private companies rip us off and give worse service.

Think about this - in the US a student graduates with $100,000 plus of loans to pay back - that is a bloody mortgage. Who in their right mind would lend such $$$ to students - the banks of course. And why do they lend so much - because the universities put their fees up. And why do they put their fees up? Because they know the government will allow the banks to give loans to the students. Government means to do well, but basically, they are taken for a ride by everyone. If the govt refused to allow banks to give student loans, university fees would drop ... common sense. But profs and Unis lobby government ...

ACC is probably no different. They pay out whatever is demanded and they pay too much.

[Stan]

On Morning Report this morning, Roger Bell from Insurer, Vero, was talking about the things that private providers would have to do to make it viable. He talked about risk management and CLAIMS PREVENTION.

If you're not sure why thats a bit scary, ACC talk about Injury Prevention, you know, supporting rider training like Ride Right Otago and the Ride Forever campaign. They're trying to reduce the number of people getting injured.

The insurance companies don't give a fuck about how many people get injured, they'd just like to reduce the number of claims.

Check out the audio here:

http://static.radionz.net.nz/assets/audio_item/0004/2104294/mnr-20091023-0710-Insurers_wary_of_being_burned_again_in_ACC_competi tion-m048.asx

[FJRider]

But Maori Party MPs are all electorate not list.

Actually .. I recall most of them (if not all) hold Maori seats, not general Electorate seats. Four of the seven available. :dodge:

And when those get abolished .... :zzzz:

I guess seats are seats ... :2thumbsup

[dipshit]

I do not understand why the Govt is not bright enough to see if a car hits a bike it should be the car's insurance cover that pays and not other motorcyclists assuming the accident is the car owners fault.

At the moment the government pays for the medical treatment either way.

And we are only talking about a 60/40% split of cars drivers being at fault.