It's become apparent that ACC is unfair and the premiums are too expensive for motorcyclists.
It's also apparent that this government doesn't have the political capital to drive through the legislation changes required to drop lump sum ACC levies attached to motor vehicle registration and charge ACC levies through fairer systems such as;
- Increased GST, (The Dpex preferred option).
- Road User (mileage) Charges for all road users .
- or much higher petrol levies and diesel levies.
- or Single Flat Rate ACC levy for all motorists.
Because the government doesn't have the political capatal to enact any of the above their only solution is to hand the problem to private insurers and let them bear the political cost.
OK so the question is in our heart of hearts do we really believe they really privatise the road user account?
You do the logic! (It's a variation on you do the math). The ACC is hell bent on adopting a fully funded model. We don't fully fund superannuation, health care or any other state service in New Zealand so ask yourself why just ACC? ...
Today I have come to the conclusion that motorcyclists as a group will be one of the few road user groups who will benefit from privatising the motor vehicle account of ACC ...and bringing back the right to sue - read on and I will explain why it's in the interests of motorcyclists to urgently push for the introduction of COMPULSORY FULL personal injury road user insurance for all road users.
Here's why:
- ACC doesn't take prevention seriously. (Nick Smith is on record saying it doesn't work (at the Tamaki National party supporters meeting). When it's privatised the insurance companies will offer incentives to put the fences at the top of the cliff.
- We are developing an attitude and acceptance of user pays and that as a nation our attitues have changed and no one wants to subsidise anyone else. Privatisation supports these new attitudes.
- Because retired road users who don't have a salary, don't qualify for ACC Earnings Replacement Compensation if they a motor vehicle accident - yet they pay the same motor vehicle ACC levies as everyone else. John Judge says that's just not fair. As a consequence the retired are subsidising John Key's, Nick Smith's and John Judge's ACC Insurance premiums.
- For similar reasons to those above, motorists on lower incomes are subsidising Earnings Replacement Compensation payments for those like Nick Smith and John Key on higher incomes. Again, John Judge has pointed out the inequity of this.
- Because Nick Smith has said that the rapidly increasing injury, rehabilitation and ERC costs for cyclists "will be covered by higher employer and employee ACC levies" However injury, rehabilitation and ERC costs for cyclists are not paid out of the workers account - but erroneously out of the road users account. ACC's accounts have become so muddled that we rob Peter to pay Paul in a confusing array of ways that's skews and obfuscates any attempt at sensible analysis and makes a ridicule of the notion of having separate accounts and levies.
- because people who own multiple vehicles are paying multiple levies, yet can only drive/ride one vehicle at a time.
- and because there are riders now who didn't ride a motorcycle between 1972 to 1999. Why should they be paying anything towards the residual costs from this period?
- Because riders of larger bikes are being asked to pay higher ACC levies. Nick Smith has failed to demonstrate any correlation with any statistics to explain why this should be the case.
- The premiums ACC wants to charge are justified on the lies ACC has sold to the public such as "Motorcyclists are 16 times more likely to be injured". Whereas the premiums private insurance companies set are determined by skilled actuaries who take into account your risk profile and ensure they make a fair profit for the share holders (and I intend to buy some shares in them with the money I save on my low risk profile adjusted premiums).
- Because New Zealanders are fair minded, fair players, on the rugby field etc and we just won't accept something that is so blatently unfair. A large percentage of Motorcyclists just won't register their vehicles and the decisions made by the National Party will bias the way a large percentage of the population votes at the next election.
A call by motorcyclists to privatise ACC to lower our costs will highlight that:
- we believe we are being charged a disproportionately high levy
- demonstrate that under a fair insurance scheme that car drivers have to insure themselves for the damage they do to motorcyclists when they are at fault. Rather than the current scheme whereby motorcyclists are expected to pay a premium to cover drivers mistakes. Insurance companies understand that the motorist at fault needs to take financial responsibility for the accident they caused.
- This is why third party motor vehicle accident personal injury insurance is cheaper for motorcyclists than car drivers in Australia and elsewhere in the world (source: http://www.mac.sa.gov.au/xstd_files/...al%20aug09.pdf) For example in South Australia compulsory third pary insurance for a car driver costs $483.00 but only $390 for a motorcyle greater than 660cc.[/B][/SIZE]
- Where National is taking ACC
I believe that John Judge's ACC Insurance can compete alongside the private companies to moderate their excesses in the way that Kiwi Bank moderates the Australian banks in New Zealand to some extent.
To this end I have established an association of motorcyclists who wish to campaign for this on these grounds. Membership to this new association is free....but you are expected to be an active member of the campaign. Of course you can still belong to BRONZ or Ulysses even though their objectives and manifestos are quite different with regards to ACC.
Now one key question: How do you think the rest of New Zealand will react when we tell them we want privatised motor vehicle personal insurance because it will be cheaper for us?
Who's going to join my campaign?
(PM me if you want to join this campaign.)
I think at this stage the best name for this campaign group is 'Privatise ACC Insurance Now'
Wobblyas
President P.A.I.N. Campaign
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Originally Posted by Squiggles
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