jafar
17th November 2009, 20:09
Thousands of motorcyclists have gathered at Parliament and loudly booed ACC Minister Nick Smith over levy rise plan
17 November 2009
An estimated 5,000 motorcyclists have gathered Parliament's grounds to protest plans for significant rises in their registration fees through ACC levy increases.
The protestors believe they are being unfairly victimised, saying there are other high risk sports and recreations that not being levied at all, which is not fair. They say one group should not be singled out.
While the rally and ride organiser Les Mason was addressing the crowd, ACC Minister Nick Smith arrived and was loudly booed.
Protestor Charlie Langham claims the numbers Dr Smith has been putting out are not correct.
"Targeting these guys to try and double their levies is to deflect the argument away from what it really is - which is about ultimately setting ACC up for a commercialisation."
Mr Langham says the reality is motorcyclists already pay higher levies than anyone else on the road, which is unjustifiable.
A delegation of 12 of the protesters are meeting with Dr Smith to discuss their concerns this afternoon. Some motorcyclists are vowing to return and "shut the city down" if the Government does not listen.
Stolen from NZ city
17 November 2009
An estimated 5,000 motorcyclists have gathered Parliament's grounds to protest plans for significant rises in their registration fees through ACC levy increases.
The protestors believe they are being unfairly victimised, saying there are other high risk sports and recreations that not being levied at all, which is not fair. They say one group should not be singled out.
While the rally and ride organiser Les Mason was addressing the crowd, ACC Minister Nick Smith arrived and was loudly booed.
Protestor Charlie Langham claims the numbers Dr Smith has been putting out are not correct.
"Targeting these guys to try and double their levies is to deflect the argument away from what it really is - which is about ultimately setting ACC up for a commercialisation."
Mr Langham says the reality is motorcyclists already pay higher levies than anyone else on the road, which is unjustifiable.
A delegation of 12 of the protesters are meeting with Dr Smith to discuss their concerns this afternoon. Some motorcyclists are vowing to return and "shut the city down" if the Government does not listen.
Stolen from NZ city