What If? or What Next?

[What?]

Not wanting to sound negative here, just realistic. I've got my 3 days off work organised and, health permitting, will be making the trip to Wellyburg for the protest on 17th. I have also submitted to ACC and written to my MP.

So, what if our protests fall on deaf ears, and the levies go up as proposed? What are you (we) going to do about it?

Or, if we do "win" this battle, you can bet your last Moro bar that ACC will attempt to rejig other levies to achieve the same end result. You know they will, because that is how the senior managers ensure they get their pay rise and performance bonus. So what are you going to do then?

I realise that right now we are all very focussed on the fight, but we do need to think about what's next, because when this round is over, the bell is going to ring again, and we will need to be back on our feet ready to fight afresh. Maybe not defending attacks on our choice of transport, but there will be further attacks on something we do.

[k2w3]

Difficult to arrange, but I'd like to see the wholesale non-payment of registration by one and all. Quiet civil disobedience (and maybe some louder slow rides thru centres as well). I sound like a total hippie suggesting that, and as a poster-boy Tory I can't quite believe it, but ACC and National's arrogance on this one has got me really riled.

I like the fact that the biking community is a perfect cross-section of the country, and I believe National missed that point and therefore underestimated the depth & breadth of feeling. I hope they soon realise how many voters (some of them true-blue, like me) it's about to lose, big style.

Shit, I may even vote Labour. There's a first.

[Ixion]

Please bear in mind one very important point.

We are going to Wellington to START our campaign. Not to finish it.

I for one have no expectation at all that the government will just fold on the 17th.

Stock up teh cupboards and bunker down for a long fight.

Also read the MANIFESTO thread, because that basicallys sets out where we will be going .

We have some other ideas too, but I don't want to give too much away. We know that Police (and maybe DPS) and National party , as well as ACC are reading these threads.

(When I say "we" I also have no expectation at all that more than 10% of the people now loudly shouting will be there for the long haul. Most will bitch , and fade away. The hard men will stay on)

[YellowDog]

At the end of the day the money does have to be found to fund the deficit.

Our protest is all about fighting the descrimination against motorcyclists and a call for a fairer system.

If the present proposals go ahead then I anticipate that many will not pay. Personally I will hang up my riding boots for 3-4 months a year, which I suspect will be multiplied many times over.

It would be a great result if the ACC revenue from rego fees actually decreased as a result of such changes.

[MSTRS:Me]

At the end of the day the money does have to be found to fund the deficit.

What deficit? An exercise on paper, is all it is.
Their fund/s are growing, They have $12,000M in the kitty, they have $1,000M more than they started with last year, and they paid 'tax' of $700m

[klingon]

...

(When I say "we" I also have no expectation at all that more than 10% of the people now loudly shouting will be there for the long haul. Most will bitch , and fade away. The hard men will stay on)

Don't forget the scary women!

I, for one, am NOT going to stop until we have achieved our goals.

[StoneY]

Don't forget the scary women!

I, for one, am NOT going to stop until we have achieved our goals.

Wit you to the end sister!
Consider me an Angry Biker Sewing Circle supporter to the death!!!!

Ps the Vest is getting toots in the traffic, lane splitter specials ROCK

[wingrider]

Openly offer our total support to any other group affected by any change of circumstance that this Govt should try to implement.

Should the Govt remove free acc for those that injure themselves whilst committing crime then support that. Also removal of ACC for overseas visitors.

Support for the withdrawl of counsiling for victims of rape and sexual abuse.

Support for the removal of accident prevention programmes for the elderly.

Etc Etc,

We are all human beings and may at some stage have a friend or relative affected by one of these.

We as motorcyclists obviousyl have support from those that normally would wish that we just simply vanish. They can see we are being unfairly targeted.
Support them back.

We are more than just faces in the crowd.
We are not a stand alone section of society.

If there is a protest in your area then join in.

Support that which may have an impact on you in future years.

Stand up and be seen to protest legally and demonstrate your right of free speech.

May not sound quite right but I think you will know what I mean.

[Rayray401]

Hmm..according to my friend(which he is quite well informed), there's a higher chance that this legislation will go through, and the only thing that we can really do is to make amendments. Ixion, or anyone, is this true?

[Ixion]

You are confusing the ACC Amendment Bill, currently before parliament, with our levies.

the levies have nothing directly to do with the bill

However from a somewhat selfish point of view, it is very good for us if the Bill does go through, because it extends funding of the tail to 2019. Which SHOULD mean a lower levy (nb SHOULD) and also gives the Minister a face saving exit if he wants to take it.

But, please, keep the two things separate in your mind.

[Rayray401]

You are confusing the ACC Amendment Bill, currently before parliament, with our levies.

the levies have nothing directly to do with the bill

However from a somewhat selfish point of view, it is very good for us if the Bill does go through, because it extends funding of the tail to 2019. Which SHOULD mean a lower levy (nb SHOULD) and also gives the Minister a face saving exit if he wants to take it.

But, please, keep the two things separate in your mind.

Ahh, i see.

[NONONO]

Openly offer our total support to any other group affected by any change of circumstance that this Govt should try to implement.

Should the Govt remove free acc for those that injure themselves whilst committing crime then support that. Also removal of ACC for overseas visitors.

Support for the withdrawl of counsiling for victims of rape and sexual abuse.

Support for the removal of accident prevention programmes for the elderly.

Etc Etc,

We are all human beings and may at some stage have a friend or relative affected by one of these.

We as motorcyclists obviousyl have support from those that normally would wish that we just simply vanish. They can see we are being unfairly targeted.
Support them back.

We are more than just faces in the crowd.
We are not a stand alone section of society.

If there is a protest in your area then join in.

Support that which may have an impact on you in future years.

Stand up and be seen to protest legally and demonstrate your right of free speech.

May not sound quite right but I think you will know what I mean.

God bless ya mate...

[peasea]

Please bear in mind one very important point.

We are going to Wellington to START our campaign. Not to finish it.

Quite right. A point that is possibly missed by many and to gain public sympathy on one day might win the battle but it sure won't win the war.

The focus also needs to remain on the fact that ACC spin doctors are liars and are misleading the nation, never mind that bikers might get banged with higher levies; that fact is (in reality) secondary, although it is exceedingly irksome.

[What?]

Please bear in mind one very important point.

We are going to Wellington to START our campaign. Not to finish it.

I for one have no expectation at all that the government will just fold on the 17th.

Stock up teh cupboards and bunker down for a long fight.

My point precisely, Les. I get the impression from a few threads here that many think that this is a "do it once" event. Sadly, I think it is anything but.

[Toaster]

Looks like a good opportunity for me to lose weight.....


I will have to starve more to fund my registration.