ACC bill passed!

[Tubbsy]

Sorry if this has already been posted. Got this of the ZM radio website.

"Heated debate as ACC amendment Bill passed

25/02/2010 05:36

Fiscal management at ACC has dominated debate as new laws reducing the scope of cover and entitlements have been passed in Parliament.

MPs last night voted 64 to 58 in favour of amendments to ACC laws, with the Government having the numbers to make the changes it has been after, with the support of ACT and United Future.

Labour MP Maryan Street disputed government criticism of the way ACC has been managed. She says a PricewaterhouseCoopers report found ACC is run more efficiently than any other compensation scheme in the world.

But ACC Minister Nick Smith maintains the changes had to be made or else the public would be facing even bigger ACC levy increases. He says opposition MPs are in a state of denial about ACC's diire financial situation.

He says they seem ignorant of the financial pressure that would have been imposed on businesses, if changes to ACC had not been made.

Motorcycle riders will be hit hard by the changes. Bikers' Rights says people with motorcycles over 600CC will pay $140 more, while those with motorcycles under 600CC will be forking out $100 more.

Wellington branch president Brent Hutchison says it's unfair motorcyclists are being singled out. He says the organisation is keeping up the battle and will continue campaigning until the Government realises adding $30 to a car but $140 to a motorcycle is ridiculous."

[FJRider]

The changes are not just affecting motorcyclists ... some serious changes to ACC policy. Most ... not all bad ...

Here's the link ...

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/6850708/labour-warns-of-consequences-for-accident-victims/

[crazyhorse]

Yeah, I saw it on the news this morning :( Lucky for me, I registered mine last week at the old price

[Pixie]

Yeah, I saw it on the news this morning :( Lucky for me, I registered mine last week at the old price

These are changes to the ACC act.
The levy changes come in in June

[crazyhorse]

These are changes to the ACC act.
The levy changes come in in June

Yeah I knew that - but whose to say they don't proportion your registration from June onwards ??

[Swoop]

Fiscal mis-management at ACC has dominated debate...
Fixed your quote for ya...:blip:

[Cayman911]

I guess this is their lovely way of thanking us for making less pollution (for all the greenies out there), congestion and not to mention the parking spaces saved.

[Big Dave]

I wonder how close this is to what they actually set out to achieve - at the on-set.
Idle speculation - reckon they had a circle around $200 to start with and under-estimated the resistance. Then decided $140 is the 'not worth the trouble' threshold.

[Bren]

Well, I am a fuckin idiot....!!!!

I helped get National into power and all they are doing is screwing me fron behind...I would have been better off going into the slammer if I wanted to get screwed like this...!!!

What with ACC and GST it makes National a big SOB!!!

[slofox]

I heard Dickhead Smith on National Radio this morning STILL bleating on about ACC's "financial losses"...WHAT financial losses? Lying bastard...

[Big Dave]

http://kiwiridermagazine.blogspot.com/2010/02/motorcyclist-shafting-becomes-law.html

[R6_kid]

From the mouth where shit commeth:

Dr Smith said if he had not made changes to the scheme, levies would have risen to levels people could not pay and he had managed to cut the increases in half.

"Can New Zealanders afford an extra $74 per car...can New Zealanders afford an additional $300 for the earners levy for someone on the average wage, can businesses afford a 25 percent increase in their levies on April ?" he said.


It's all about positioning. I guess as motorcyclists we are all above average New Zealanders and therefore able to cope with an extra $100+ per motorcycle.

[avgas]

Its pretty simple for me. SRX is already on hold, FZR will go on hold when it expires.
The best way to stop a shark is to stop bleeding into the water. I want ACC gone now - and I think the rest of you once you have talked to private insurers will want them gone too. Would rather pay them another $200/year than ACC.

[Mikkel]

From the mouth where shit commeth:

Dr Smith said if he had not made changes to the scheme, levies would have risen to levels people could not pay and he had managed to cut the increases in half.

"Can New Zealanders afford an extra $74 per car...can New Zealanders afford an additional $300 for the earners levy for someone on the average wage, can businesses afford a 25 percent increase in their levies on April ?" he said.


It's all about positioning. I guess as motorcyclists we are all above average New Zealanders and therefore able to cope with an extra $100+ per motorcycle.

That's what gets my back up the most. Throwing ridiculous figures around that obviously does not make sense. $74 per car - just normal registered passenger cars - would equate over 220 million dollars.

The real question is whether can we afford to turn ACC into something else than what it was intended to be?

[ukusa]

Its pretty simple for me. SRX is already on hold, FZR will go on hold when it expires.
The best way to stop a shark is to stop bleeding into the water. I want ACC gone now - and I think the rest of you once you have talked to private insurers will want them gone too. Would rather pay them another $200/year than ACC.

My bike will be going on hold over winter. I don't need it to go to work, but I'll still use it on a fine weekend coz I haven't been pulled up for years so not too worried.
I already have a diesel Ute with rego on hold. I do less than 1000 kms a year in it & my last statement showed the ACC component was a little over $300. Don't see why I should pay exorbitant amounts for so few kms. I've always been a supporter of taxing the fuel (or milage on diesels) for this type of thing, it's fairer.

[Toaster]

Yep, just another poo sandwich in the poor taxpayers picnic basket.

[Toaster]

Well, I am a fuckin idiot....!!!!

I helped get National into power and all they are doing is screwing me fron behind...I would have been better off going into the slammer if I wanted to get screwed like this...!!!

What with ACC and GST it makes National a big SOB!!!

It was like voting in financial sodomy.

[rainman]

I want ACC gone now - and I think the rest of you once you have talked to private insurers will want them gone too. Would rather pay them another $200/year than ACC.

Not I. For those aforementioned private insurers will not cover me, leave aside at a reasonable rate. 'Pre-existing condition!' they will cry, "apply elsewhere". And all the free market droids will say nothing. At least until they too are middle aged and gain a fresh perspective on health. And I will in turn end up on a disability benefit, with bastards like you saying even that meagre support should be denied me, no doubt.

Markets are great. But not for healthcare. Sorry if this does not fit your ideology, but it is true.

[Stormer]

Putting regos on hold and still riding once and a while is ok, except if you stack your bike you ain`t gonna be covered by insurance.
Might cost you a bit more than you saved on the rego.

[avgas]

Putting regos on hold and still riding once and a while is ok, except if you stack your bike you ain`t gonna be covered by insurance.
Might cost you a bit more than you saved on the rego.
Good point - aren't Kiwibike Insurance on here somewhere? I am surprised they haven't jumped on the bandwagon here stating. "As long as you have WOF we will cover you"............put their money where their mouth is claiming they are "insurance for motorcyclist".
Prime marketing opportunity for them to get famous - could even end up in the news.

[325rocket]

my road bike reg will be on hold over winter as well ... i now have a dirt bike that i pay no acc levy for that i can ride over winter. in one week i have already done more damage to myself on that then years on road bikes ... figure that out!

[FJRider]

Well, I am a fuckin idiot....!!!!

I helped get National into power and all they are doing is screwing me fron behind...I would have been better off going into the slammer if I want to get screwed like this...!!!

In the slammer ... you may get your wish ... :innocent:

[FJRider]

This is the bit that gets MY interest ...

"A full time worker will be able to be pushed off all cover when he or she is well enough to work 30 hours a week, rather than the current 35," he said.

"ACC will be able to disregard pre-accident earnings, so that a middle income person will be able to be deemed work ready and pushed off ACC even if they can't carry out the well paid work they used to do."

[Hawk]

steady pressure and make it a election issue we have the lobby groups through out the country most are active here someone just needs to co-ordnate them then we'll be noticed. Not only motorcyclist groups but also abuse victim groups, ski clubs etc. United we stand divided we fall.

[Muppet]

Yes, put your bikes on hold over winter, April to September for me, that'll mean those tossers will only get around $200 odd per annum instead of the $320 they used to. And we will still be riding as we always do in summer, so what have they acheiived by being unbalanced? Anyway, there's always a way round something. I can assure you crash rates in winter for bikers are bugger all, although our friends on scooters don't help the cause by riding in cycle lanes and getting owned by cagers.

[riffer]

steady pressure and make it a election issue we have the lobby groups through out the country most are active here someone just needs to co-ordnate them then we'll be noticed. Not only motorcyclist groups but also abuse victim groups, ski clubs etc. United we stand divided we fall.

What a crock of shit. Where were they all last week at parliament? Have you had your head in the sand like most people in this thread?

[Pedrostt500]

MMMMMMMMMMMM Sand, HMMMMMMMMMMM whats that entering my arse, why yes its ACC and Yellow Nick Smith

[CrAzYMoFo]

guess im not getting another rego after my current one runs out

i might try sending them the rego cost minus the acc component (and get nowhere)
let em ticket me see if i care or pay

ill probably care but im stubborn as hell and hopefully wont back down lol (worth a try

[Hawk]

I believe that event was for unions and motorcyclists, yes I will agree there is lot of apathy out there concerning this.

and I would think that some who owns two high cc rated bikes (going by your profile) would be doing more than insulting people

[gatch]

guess im not getting another rego after my current one runs out

i might try sending them the rego cost minus the acc component (and get nowhere)
let em ticket me see if i care or pay

ill probably care but im stubborn as hell and hopefully wont back down lol (worth a try

If you don't pay rego they send it to bay corp.. Been there..

I've had 2 accidents in the last month, one on my vfr. I was hit by a car, no injuries, only the bike, no acc money spent.

The other was falling off my bmx. I was patched up at the hospital, x rayed a few times etc, acc paid for pills etc.

Kind of ironic.

[CrAzYMoFo]

pisses me off cause acc is a working system <<<( note i said working not perfect)

and they are just determined to f*** it up

[Ratti]

Like Gatch I have had cause to get ACC to pay for injuries. Like Gatch, mine were nothing to do with a motorcycle, but it cost ACC heaps in time off work, physio, docter visits and so on.( Don't tell anyone but I was drunk as anything when I fell off a pair of high heels.) How will people pay for that type of injury now? Or last week when my son had to go to AnE after being bashed at school. Who pays for that?

Acc is not perfect but the alternative makes me shudder.

[oldrider]

Its pretty simple for me. SRX is already on hold, FZR will go on hold when it expires.
The best way to stop a shark is to stop bleeding into the water. I want ACC gone now - and I think the rest of you once you have talked to private insurers will want them gone too. Would rather pay them another $200/year than ACC.

Generally, I like the idea of choice and competition but on this ACC crusade Nick Smith has lied through his teeth to try to achieve the dismantling (by deception) of the State controlled ACC "welfare" monopoly!

It is plainly obvious that Key and company are trying to pave the way for private ACCident insurance to establish it's self as the natural replacement for ACC welfare by falsely ratcheting up ACC costs!

The easiest and probably the best solution for "socialist" NZ currently, is to revert to the original (Woodhouse) no blame concept, ASAP!

I do not support the destruction of ACC in favour of private accident insurance when it means the first cab off the casualty rank is the "TRUTH"!

Nick Smith should be ashamed of himself and IMHO he is unworthy of his position.

I voted for the local National candidate and my party vote went to ACT because I wanted improvements and some consequence in Law and order, justice and corrections!

Fat chance of that ever happening with this lot, Key cancelled ACT out by focussing Rodney on "dysfunctional Auckland" a poison chalice, whatever the outcome!

Nick Smith did not have to lie, I could have respected his direction if he had just "told the truth", as it is he does not now fit my expectations of a cabinet minister, I would like to see him gone!

That is why I supported (and still do) StoneY on the rather disappointing Union driven ACC protest initiative!

I was personally not surprised at the dismal Union contribution but was and still am very impressed with the effort and contribution made by StoneY and the biker fraternity on the day!

[bogan]

Generally, I like the idea of choice and competition but on this ACC crusade Nick Smith has lied through his teeth to try to achieve the dismantling (by deception) of the State controlled ACC "welfare" monopoly!

It is plainly obvious that Key and company are trying to pave the way for private ACCident insurance to establish it's self as the natural replacement for ACC welfare by falsely ratcheting up ACC costs!

Thats it in a nutshell, they have to blatantly lie and tamper to make private seem better than ACC, so obviously ACC was better to begin with.

But it seems they have the numbers in parliament willing to dismantle ACC in favour of private (lets face it, thats what the bill is really about) so what can we do now? Keep up protests every now and then and make it an election issue is bout all I can think of, still have to pay a year or two of inflated rego though.

[avgas]

If you don't pay rego they send it to bay corp.. Been there..
Please elaborate. As far as rego is concerned they can not chase it up as outstanding. It is not a fee to use the road.
If rego is on hold, and you are caught you will be fined, but that is all they can do.

[avgas]

Generally, I like the idea of choice and competition but on this ACC crusade Nick Smith has lied through his teeth to try to achieve the dismantling (by deception) of the State controlled ACC "welfare" monopoly!
Very true - so why would you want to pay for something that this guy is essentially the director of.
Its very easy to talk the talk of wanting Nick out of this little pie - but the actions can only be dictated via cutting their revenue. This is a business decisions, and the shareholders (while angry) are still happy to pay for it apparently.

[YellowDog]

As always the ACC debate gets very heated and also at totally cross purposes. Pretty pointless really.

Whether ACC should or should not exist in its present form is a far larger issue. Maybe we should just concern ourselves with motorcycling for now.

How about all motor vehicles should have to be insured have a current WOF and Rego to be legitimate?

If you have an accident the motor insurance companies agree on the blame (or share it). The costs of the claim are paid for by the insurance company. This includes medical expenses should there be any.

Motor insurance companies cannot exclude you from cover on health grounds unless they are so acute that they impair your ability to use your vehicle safely; hence no one is unreasonably excluded.

If you don't have a claim, your premium goes down (no claims bonus). If you do, it goes up.

Insurance costs would of course be higher, but not as high as we are lead to believe. As there would be a lot more policies up for grabs, the insurance companies would have to be less profit hungry than they presently are. If they stay greedy, then others will take their business (Aussies/Yanks/Poms/) from them at a more competitive price.

Your annual rego goes down because there will be no or only a minimal ACC levy.

The ACC debate should be a totally separate debate and viewing something so broad and all encompassing purely from a motoring perspective will not result in a fairer system for all. Regardless of this point, the ACC changes are going to make claims tougher to get approved and also less generous. A comprehensive motor insurance policy sould be comprehensive!

Easy peasy problem solved. It works well in the very large majority or developed countries - why not in NZ?