ACC levies...to increase again

[HanaBelle]

I've had a "reply" to my email:

Dear Ms Agnew

Thank you for your letter of October 30, 2004 addressed to Hon Ruth Dyson,
Minister for ACC, regarding your ACC levies and your dealings with the
Corporation.

Your letter has been placed before the Minister for her consideration. She
will provide you with her personal response as soon as possible.

It means standard "ministerial" process which in my day was as follows:

- send to relevant ministry in Ministerial Bag thereby triggering 21 day turnaround policy timelimit

- delegate via Chain of Endless Authority to junior assistant policy analyst unfortunate enough to have to write this months Defensive Responses to Annoying Ministerial Questions from Mad People in Public Who Just Dont Understand the Job We Do In Their Best Interests Because They Cant Manage Their Own Lives Without Needing Big Daddy (or in Helen and Ruth's case Skinny Mama)

- [exhaust 12 of said 21 days achieving this dripdown, causing junior assistant policy analyst small heart attack because they have been in the job 2 months and cant find the Motorcycles are Evil so Charge Them More file]

- formulate seventeen drafts of dull little response that says "because we want to" without seeming to lack moral cause...usually selecting from a list of Jolly Good Reasons Du Jour Preferably Involving Money and Public Safety

- give Line Manager lots of power orgasms using red pen on your drafts, increasing backflow of Public Monies in the form of junior assistant policy analysts salary expended in (a) alcohol and illicit dug purchases, often followed by fiery chilli and Alka Selzter..(b) counselling and Employee Assistance referrals for work related stresssss {now a legal obligation on employers}

- finally cough out very very very safe lil reply explaining in as little detail as possible aforesaid "because I said so". Post it 4 days after the 21 deadline has expired in order to risk spanking needed to assuage guilt at having just been Agent of Useless Response to Good Question.

Get ready to be disappointed and disillusioned about the real workins of public democracy. Oh dear, Ive gotten all cynical.

HB

[Stinger]

What about the fact that most bikers also own a car. Has any research been done to include the amount that we pay for both of the acc levvies combined, vs the amount that we cost. Because we can only drive one vehicle at a time I would imagine that our exposure in the car is reduced by riding the bike.

[James Deuce]

What about the fact that most bikers also own a car. Has any research been done to include the amount that we pay for both of the acc levvies combined, vs the amount that we cost. Because we can only drive one vehicle at a time I would imagine that our exposure in the car is reduced by riding the bike.

You can try and do "creative accounting" as much as you want, by we motorcyclists have a startling propensity for single vehicle accidents in proportional numbers that car drivers just don't. We have more accident, we get hurt badly more often, and we cost more money to repair. If we stopped falling off with quite such frequency we might be a lot better off.

[rodgerd]

What about the fact that most bikers also own a car. Has any research been done to include the amount that we pay for both of the acc levvies combined, vs the amount that we cost. Because we can only drive one vehicle at a time I would imagine that our exposure in the car is reduced by riding the bike.

Except when I own a bike and a car and my wife is driving the car, of course.

[rodgerd]

Jim2, what is your thought re the scenario I posted about ACC levy from two cages involved in a head-on, each with 4 passengers who have not contributed anything in the way of levies, - versus the m/c crashing and only capable of carrying one passenger? - but whose rider has paid a bigger ACC levy thanb either of the cage owners?

1/ The passengers have contributed in the way of levvies on their incomes, like everyone else.

2/ I don't have any kids. I haven't used schools for over a decade. Why are my taxes supporting other peoples' kids? That's what your argument appears to boil down to - "fuck you, I've got mine."

You might want to be careful before you head down that route. All the bike ACC levvies you pay in your lifetime are unlikely to cover one serious crash. If you go that way, you'll likely find yourself selling half of what you own the first time you bin it and break a few limbs.

[Ms Piggy]

It means standard "ministerial" process which in my day was as follows:

Get ready to be disappointed and disillusioned about the real workins of public democracy. Oh dear, Ive gotten all cynical.

HB

Yep I knew it something like that. I work for the Govt, so I'm aware of how slooooooooowy the cogs turn.

Optimist & idealist to the end me.

[James Deuce]

Jim2, what is your thought re the scenario I posted about ACC levy from two cages involved in a head-on, each with 4 passengers who have not contributed anything in the way of levies, - versus the m/c crashing and only capable of carrying one passenger? - but whose rider has paid a bigger ACC levy thanb either of the cage owners?

Proportionally motorcyclists are one of the smallest groups of road users, yet the ACC can state and frequently does, that motorcyclists are the most expensive group of motorist clients for ACC. The head-on accidents that you've pointed out still happen less frequently than single vehicle motorcycle accidents. Breaking my neck and back was rated as a moderate injury, but I know I cost ACC at least $50,000 in lump sum and treatment costs. If I'd had precisely the same accident whilst driving a car, there would have been an insurance bill and no injury.

I know what you are saying, and I know it seems unfair, but shying away from the fact that we cost the government proportionally way more money than car drivers is ostrich syndrome in my book.

[bevsta]

I've had a "reply" to my email:

Dear Ms Agnew

Thank you for your letter of October 30, 2004 addressed to Hon Ruth Dyson,
Minister for ACC, regarding your ACC levies and your dealings with the
Corporation.

Your letter has been placed before the Minister for her consideration. She
will provide you with her personal response as soon as possible.

Regards

Brendan Gage
ACC Private Secretary
Office of Hon Ruth Dyson
Parliament Buildings
WELLINGTON

I had one previously just confirming receipt of it but, this means it in a pile! Woo hoo!

I just got my confirmed receipt one from Hon Pete Hodgson. Still waiting on one from Ruth tho...

[tassle]

a point to remember is that all motorcycle accidents are lumped in together weither it was on the road (road registered high acc content) or a 4 wheel farmbike,or motorcross bike with someone learning to do freestyle backflips,so they all get lumped together as motorbike accident statistics,and we pay through the nose for the unreged accidents.suppose just have to remember that lifes not supposed to be fair.

[Ms Piggy]

I've just got my reply from Ruth Dyson.

[Hitcher]

I've just got my reply from Ruth Dyson.

A beautifully-crafted response. It's good to know our taxes aren't being squandered on illiterate boguns.

[James Deuce]

I've just got my reply from Ruth Dyson.

That's legendary!

Don't show it people who don't ride bikes though.

[Ms Piggy]

A beautifully-crafted response. It's good to know our taxes aren't being squandered on illiterate boguns.

Yes it healps me sleep well at night

[crashe]

I spoke to Rick Barker MP last weekend... he is fighting to get the ACC levies dropped again.

Rick is a Labour MP and he rides bikes as well.... as does his young son....
Liane Dailzeil MP (labour) her husband rides bikes....

So start contacting Rick Barker.... Rick is based in Hastings... but send him a letter to wellington - FREE POST..... he is behind the ACC levies being dropped....
You can also go on his mailout list and he sends out letters with updates on what he is doing re the ACC levies....

Both Rick and I hit up on Harry D.... Labour MP last weekend about upping the speed limit on "L" riders.... as both of us said that 70km on the open road or motorways was dangerous.... and yet a "L" car driver can do 100km....
Rick's son is on a "L" plate. So both Rick and I got stuck into Harry as Harry D is the minister that deals with it...Harry is also the minister for LTSA....

So we again hit him up about allowing bikes to use the motorway bus lanes... for our safety and maybe more ppl will ride bikes and that may help stop the congestion... had to point out that the green lanes in Ak are ruled by AK CC and not LTSA... so he said that he will look into it...

So send Harry letters as well.
The more letters that they receive the better.