Why are we fighting alone?

**GOONR** · 20th November 2009, 20:03

I'm sure that there are still a lot of people out there who just aren't getting the bigger picture and think it is just "angry bikers" sounding off because we have to pay more. Oviously these are the people we need to get through to.

There are other groups that are concerned about changes to ACC, we may have different end goals but we have one main concern, the future of the ACC. Why aren't we working together? Bike's make good pictures for the news but a unified voice from different corners of the ACC debate would surely get Jo Bloggs thinking that there may be more to it than "smelly old bikers" getting their knickers in a twist.

Extract from link above..

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"NCWNZ believes that the community is increasingly concerned that the political agenda is manoeuvring ACC to become a more saleable commodity. For the last 23 years, NCWNZ has been in opposition to the privatisation of publicly-owned assets; to date this has included the postal system, the roading system, energy and water systems.

“Groups such as the motorcyclists, the National Foundation for the Deaf, the Mental Health Foundation, NZ Association of Counsellors, ACC Coalition and many others are all voicing their concerns. But through this diversity of interests, all share one mutual concern, ACC,”
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We also need to push information like this as well.

Extract..
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"“Where is the ‘honest conversation’?” asked CTU President Helen Kelly. “Nick Smith has told those of us on the Ministerial Advisory Group that he doesn’t want to talk to us any more. Instead of listening to a group with extensive health and safety, medical and workplace legal compensation expertise he is choosing instead to listen to his own hand-picked group of accountants, insurance executives and Treasury mandarins.”

“He has already gutted the ACC board of its worker representation, tried to silence ACC chief executive Jan White at a select committee, and now he has closed the door on another group of independent experts with the interests of the scheme at heart. This is not how to hold an honest conversation – the Minister seems unwilling to listen to anyone who might disagree with him and point out the utter folly of his obvious desperation to privatise ACC.”
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We need to pull together me thinks.

**short-circuit** · 20th November 2009, 20:06

Originally Posted by short-circuit

No! That's where I think people are missing the point. The National Party (and their supporters) are the enemy.

The intention to privatise ACC was quite overt prior to the last election, what has happened is no surprise at all.

Peter as a member knew damn fine well what he was supporting and he will continue to promote a pro-big business and anti-people (biker) party regardless.

ACC may be an important issue for bikers...it's also an important issue for sexual abuse victims who now (aside from the existing barriers) have to be diagnosed with an axis one mental health diagnosis to even be considered for treatment / specialised support.

I really hope people are enjoying their $12 a week tax cut

..........

**Ixion** · 20th November 2009, 20:14

We're not. ACCFutures , an unbrella group for a large number of organisations opposed to the way ACC is heading spoke at the BIKEOI!.

And BRONZ has been approached by several other groups, we working through it.

**Ixion** · 20th November 2009, 20:16

Uh, yeah, not to mention the Green, Progressive and Labour, parties standing shoulder to shoulder with us.

(Absolutely NO reply from the Maoris. Hm . Given Otherme is on the Maori roll , maybe me had better start making a stink)

**GOONR** · 20th November 2009, 20:20

Originally Posted by Ixion

Uh, yeah, not to mention the Green, Progressive and Labour, parties standing shoulder to shoulder with us.

(Absolutely NO reply from the Maoris. Hm . Given Otherme is on the Maori roll , maybe me had better start making a stink)

Political parties supporting the cause is great but we need Jo Bloggs behind us as well. If we can gain momentum with the other groups who have concerns then that would be better, they will bring their own voting public with them. That will get the pollies worried.

**eelracing** · 20th November 2009, 20:33

Originally Posted by Ixion

(Absolutely NO reply from the Maoris. Hm .

Gutless wonders will roll over and have there bellies scratched foreshore!
Look at what Hone can get away with.

Hide can call Key and his lackeys useless and get away with it...and he speaks the truth.

Make no mistake this Government is spineless.

Do we really want to be led by greedpigs.

**James Deuce** · 20th November 2009, 21:28

The Maori Party have their Koha and the National Party have their voting buddies for the ACC Act amendment.

**Howie** · 20th November 2009, 22:21

Originally Posted by Ixion

We're not. ACCFutures , an unbrella group for a large number of organisations opposed to the way ACC is heading spoke at the BIKEOI!.

The ACCfutures coalition website is here, http://www.accfutures.org.nz/index.html

Looking at the number of unions and occupational associations, that are participating organisations, I would say a fair number of people on this site are probably already associated with them. I posted a copy of one of their newsletters here. http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1129492542

It was good to see a representative from them speaking at the Bikeoi.

I would say they are working hard in the background at the moment sorting out a combined front to tackle the ACC issues. As Ixion says there needs to be a bit of background work done first. If you belong to one of Participating organisations for the ACC futures organisation, contact your local representative and ask them to find out more information for you from your national office. Rather than everyone fulling their inbox up with e-mails asking similar questions. If you belong to another organisation or sports group that you think might/should join the coalition then bring the site and who they are to the attention of the officials of your organisation.

**NONONO** · 20th November 2009, 22:56

Originally Posted by Howie

The ACCfutures coalition website is here, http://www.accfutures.org.nz/index.html

Looking at the number of unions and occupational associations, that are participating organisations, I would say a fair number of people on this site are probably already associated with them. I posted a copy of one of their newsletters here. http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1129492542

It was good to see a representative from them speaking at the Bikeoi.

I would say they are working hard in the background at the moment sorting out a combined front to tackle the ACC issues. As Ixion says there needs to be a bit of background work done first. If you belong to one of Participating organisations for the ACC futures organisation, contact your local representative and ask them to find out more information for you from your national office. Rather than everyone fulling their inbox up with e-mails asking similar questions. If you belong to another organisation or sports group that you think might/should join the coalition then bring the site and who they are to the attention of the officials of your organisation.

Now hang on, just a dog gone minute..
Don't the coalition look like a bunch of PINKO'S?
I was under the impression KB don't want no PINKO's round here?
I surely must have missed the business round table when I looked at the list, will just go back and check..

**ready4whatever** · 21st November 2009, 09:25

Dont worry theres many more groups that are anti ACC at the moment. i see it on the news nearly every night now. disables having funding cut etc which are getting highly publicized, its making alot of voters think twice about national. If ACC are cutting funding by the thousands, aswell as hiking up pretty much every levy they put on us, where the fuck does the money go? they are saving millions, aswell as earning millions

**mashman** · 21st November 2009, 09:36

Originally Posted by ready4whatever

where the fuck does the money go? they are saving millions, aswell as earning millions

they're telling you it's none of your business!!! And most likely ANY PROFIT MADE is being invested by a company that's not NZ owned and the profits end up in some other country! This is not the only way to run an economy... POWER TO THE PEOPLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLE!!!

**Howie** · 21st November 2009, 09:37

Originally Posted by NONONO

Now hang on, just a dog gone minute..
Don't the coalition look like a bunch of PINKO'S?
I was under the impression KB don't want no PINKO's round here?
I surely must have missed the business round table when I looked at the list, will just go back and check..

Pinkos, Green, Red, Blue, or any colour, if they can become allied, in the fight against the proposed changes to ACC then I for one would support them. If you believe the Business round table would support a fight against the Unjustified increases in ACC motorcycle levies, and the general moves being made in preparation to privatise Accident insurance in New Zealand then by all means lobby them for support . In fact you raise a good point maybe a letter or three to various Business groups, and organisation might bring some interesting feedback from them. I feel personally that the Business round table as a lobby group for private enterprise, well be all in favour of the current proposed changes.
Like it or not this fight is not just about increased Motorcycle levies, and is political in nature.

**NONONO** · 21st November 2009, 09:42

Went back and checked, no business round table...only pinkos.

**Howie** · 21st November 2009, 10:24

Originally Posted by NONONO

Went back and checked, no business round table...only pinkos.

Your point is what exactly?? The Thread Author asked about groups other than Motorcyclist’s that are concerned about the proposed changes to ACC in general, and why aren’t we all joining together. I pointed one area where a group is forming to have a united front to lobby against the changes to ACC.
If you really believe that the Business round table would support Motorcyclist’s in proving how unfair, and unjust the m proposed changes to motorcycle levies are then please feel to share that information with all of us.

Interestingly I just had a look at the Business round tables website, and they have no information up at all about the current proposed changes to ACC, so not really sure if they would be any help at all. I might flick them through an email this wekend if I find time, but don't expect much support in their reply.

**Naki Rat** · 21st November 2009, 10:45

From Trade Me Message Board

Originally Posted by Trade Me

Motorcyclists represent 0.3% of ACCs incomes. The amount of money involved is tiny for the government.

Even the dimmest National Party strategists will be saying "Do we really need to give Labour a big, noisy, media savvy bunch of 130,000 bikers, just for the change behind the couch ?"

Even Nick Smith knows that the proposal can't be put through.

Taxation it has been said, is the art of plucking the goose with the minimum amount of hissing.

This goose has not had a feather touched yet, but its been hissing for weeks, and has inflicted several serious bites.

Even National want this goose to stop hissing - the very next bite may get infected.

Not directly biker related either