Impressive response from Trevor Mallard

**sunhuntin** · 26th November 2009, 11:25

ok, sure it was just a standard form letter, but it was printed on ACTUAL PAPER and sent through the POST! very impressed here. he is very much on our side, as im sure you all know.

**Ixion** · 26th November 2009, 11:26

He still struggles with the technology thing, eh?

**LBD** · 26th November 2009, 13:28

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

ok, sure it was just a standard form letter, but it was printed on ACTUAL PAPER and sent through the POST! very impressed here. he is very much on our side, as im sure you all know.

So...where is it?

**2wheeldrifter** · 26th November 2009, 13:31

Originally Posted by Ixion

He still struggles with the technology thing, eh?

We struggle to post a link or the info here as well!

**crazyhorse** · 26th November 2009, 13:57

Well, so long as someone has read it....... makes no sense to me, since I haven't read it

**firefighter** · 26th November 2009, 14:07

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

ok, sure it was just a standard form letter, but it was printed on ACTUAL PAPER and sent through the POST! very impressed here. he is very much on our side, as im sure you all know.

I guess we'll take your word for it! (a scan or typed would be guut)

**Elysium** · 26th November 2009, 14:50

Could you photocopy a few hundred copies and send them out to us?

**sunhuntin** · 26th November 2009, 17:26

will post a scan up soon as i can be arsed taking all the crap off the scanner. lol.

**Ms Piggy** · 26th November 2009, 19:38

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

ok, sure it was just a standard form letter, but it was printed on ACTUAL PAPER and sent through the POST! very impressed here. he is very much on our side, as im sure you all know.

Yeah I got mine today too! I may just pop in and see him one day soon. Actually I think it's the same as the email he sent me.

Thank you for your recent email about the Government’s plan to raise motorcycle levies.

The current ACC levy on motorbikes is $252.00.

The Government is proposing to treble that to $735.00 for bikes over 00cc, an increase of just under $500 a year.

That represents the biggest ever increase in ACC levies.

It is unacceptable, it's outrageous, and it's not warranted.

The clear message from the Government is that it wants motorbikes priced off the road.

It ignores the fact that bikers use less petrol, create less pollution, and cause less congestion.

It ignores the fact, too, that nearly two thirds of accidents involving motorbikes are caused by cars.

And what about the people who are motor bike enthusiasts who have a number of bikes, though don't necessarily do high mileage on them? They'll pay an extra $500 on each bike.

ACC Minister Nick Smith keeps saying that this is an insurance scheme and it should be user pays – each category should meet the cost of accidents in that area.

ACC was never designed as a pure user pays insurance system. It was intended as a no-fault comprehensive system of protection for people who suffered injuries.

If it were user pays:

· some occupational areas, like farming, would be priced out of existence

· levies would be charged on sports clubs and schools because it's riskier to play sport than sit on the couch and watch it on TV

· elderly people who have more falls because of frailty would be charged for growing old

· push bikes would pay huge levies because of a high rate of accidents, also often not their own fault

None of that makes sense, and the Government shouldn't be playing one sector of New Zealanders off against another.

The decision is arbitrary on a number of other fronts. The cut-off points in terms of cc ratings do not, for example, take into account the relative power of motorcycles and would treat a vintage 650cc motorcycle as more dangerous than a 250cc modern bike capable of doing more than 200kph.

National is undermining ACC by reducing the scope of entitlements for injured New Zealanders, while it disproportionately hikes up levies for groups like motorcyclists.

To make matters worse, the National/Act/Maori Party government is privatising major parts of ACC. The insurance and management of injuries is being privatised. Instead of being provided by ACC this will be provided by private insurance companies. ACC has very low administration costs. The profits that Australian owned private insurance companies expect to earn have been estimated by Merrill Lynch to total $200million per annum. New Zealanders will end up paying more for less cover.

The government has been claiming ACC is insolvent. But it’s scaremongering. ACC has over $11 billion of reserves and last year collected $1 billion more in levies than it spent on claims.

In Parliament, Labour has and will continue to fight against the unprecedented cost burden that the Government is trying to impose on bikers.

We will work with you to try to get some sense out of the Government and a fair deal for bikers.

New Zealand has the world’s best accident compensation scheme. Labour wants to keep it that way

Thank you for writing on this important issue.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Ms Piggy
Sent: Thursday, 15 October 2009 7:16 a.m.
To: Trevor Mallard
Cc: petone.eo@clear.net.nz
Subject: Proposed ACC levy increase

Dear Mr. Mallard,

My name is: Ms Piggy [details changed to protect the innocent]
My address is: Lower Hutt [details changed to protect the innocent]
Contact Numbers are: none of your bees wax! [details changed to protect the innocent]

I am writing as a member of your electorate to express my opposition to the proposed ACC levy increase for motorcycle owners.

I own a 500cc motorcycle that is use to commute to work in Wellington city. As well I ride my motorcycle for pleasure.

Under the proposed increase in ACC levies I will be expected to pay an extra 102% if the information in the newspapers is correct.

I do not own a car because Wellington has an excellent public transport system and my motorcycle is a more economical and environmentally friendly travel option.

It is my opinion that when a motorcyclist is in an accident then the individual should pay a higher registration cost. However it appears all motorcyclist are being unfairly penalised and made to pay for the accidents and mistakes of the few.

The result for me personally is that motorcycle riding will become an uneconomical and I believe it will be the same for many others also.

1 of the overall impacts may be that some riders choose to no longer pay their motorcycles registration and therefore stop seeking Warrant of Fitness checks also, many may view the risk of being ticketed for this as a cheaper option than paying these new fees.

Motorcycle related industries will be impacted upon enormously in my opinion and in this very difficult economic climate I believe there will be job losses and the entire industry will be negatively effected.

Finally if more individuals are unable to afford to ride motorcycles it may equate to an increase in cars on the road, which will effect traffic congestion and inevitably result in an increase in accidents, and of course not forgetting the environmental impact from increased pollution.

Please listen to what the motorcycle riders within the New Zealand population are saying and make your final decisions based on the feedback you will be receiving from many of us.

Yours sincerely,

Ms Piggy [details changed to protect the innocent]

**AllanB** · 26th November 2009, 20:08

He's a twat - he spent years as H Clarks fall boy and bum licker.

Still I guess anyone with any way of supporting us is better than nothing. It's a opposition thing I guess - jump on any bandwaggon going against the party in power.

They all suck-arse IMO all parties

Bastards all of them, take take take.