Biker protest heads to Parliament
By MICHAEL FOX and COLIN ESPINER
The Government backed off big increases in ACC levies after thousands of bikers revved up ministers outside Parliament.
Dr Smith addressed the crowd by saying the increase in ACC levies charged annually to bikers was "inevitable" but the increase may not be as high as first mooted.
But he could barely be heard as angry bikers chanted "bullshit" and shouted "liar" in response.
"I've indicated to them that it's unlikely that the Government will agree to the scale of increase that the ACC board has recommended," Dr Smith later told reporters.
Under the new scheme, the cost of registering a moped would rise $58.97 to $257.58.
All motorcycles currently cost $252.69 but from 2010/11 those from 125cc-600cc would rise to $511.43 while those over 600cc will be $745.77.
Labour leader Phil Goff said the size of the protest showed how angry motorcylists were about the levy increases.
"If you start going down user-pays, when will it be that we start charging kids who play sport for levies because they are more likely to be injured than if they stay home on the couch? When will we start charging the elderly because they have more falls?
"This is the thin edge of the user-pays wedge and it is not what ACC is about. We don't support it going down that track.''
Goff said he paid no levies on his farm bike, despite there being a greater chance of an accident than on his road bike, which did attract levies. "The system is not consistent and it's not fair.''
Prime Minister John Key said the Government was listening to motorcyclists. But he said there would still be a cross-subsidisation from car owners to motorcyclists if the levy rises went ahead.
Key said he was not surprised by how unhappy bikers were. "I think if anybody faces a large increase they are unhappy and we acknowledge that.''
He said the Government would prefer not to put up any ACC levies. "But we inherited a system from Labour that is badly broken and needs to be fixed."
Bikoi organiser, Wellington IT professional Brent Hutchinson, said the bikers would provide a united front to Dr Smith. At the rally many threatened civil disobdience if their message was ignored.
"It's united factions of the motorcycle community that have never bothered to talk before."
"It's unfair and it’s not right to target one group of society who are largely blameless for what injuries they receive."
A group of 12 representatives will meet with Dr Smith this afternoon with police expecting up to 6000 to converge on parliament grounds.
ACC paid more than $62 million for motorcycle riders last year and collected $12.3m in levies from them.
However, biker clubs have questioned the way the official figures have been used. They point to figures that show ACC collected $4.2 billion in levies while paying out just $3.1b in claims in the latest year.
Earlier this morning traffic delays were being reported on State Highways 1 and 2 through to Aotea Quay.
"People need to be patient," a police spokesman said.
Mr Hutchinson told those gathered before midday that the line of motorcyclists stretched from Aotea Quay to Paremata, north of Wellington. "Ladies and gentlemen the Bikoi currently owns State Highway One."
Large convoys of riders were be escorted by police, district road policing manager Inspector Peter Baird said.
"The volume of protesters does have both disruption and safety risks that the organisers have been at pains to minimise. Those not confident to ride in an organised convoy should meet protesters at Westpac Stadium."
- Stuff.co.nz, NZPA and The Press
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@RR#154 Are you serious???
No benefit to society. Try lower emissions, less petrol usage, less congestion on the roads. And as for gas-guzzling. My 1300cc bike costs me around $25 a fortnight on Gas. How much does your car cost for same period?
For all the other comments about close calls etc. I commute daily and just this morning a white car on the motorway, (You know who you are), almost hit me. The thing that really got me was that I was on my horn for a quite a few secs before the idiot swerved back into his lane. What was this person doing to 1. NOT see a large motorcycle almost next to his shoulder. 2. NOT hear a large motorcycle almost next to his shoulder 3. Ignoring the horn of said large motorcycle almost next to his shoulder.
And I bet half the people complaining about bikers are the very same ones to complain about losing cell phone privileges in their car. Grow up and treat driving with the respect it deserves and maybe us bikers would not be such an endangered species that the Govt needs to shaft.
Simple_Truth #143 - can you provide a link to those figures other than a bias website that doesn't show its source? ie; ACC link please... Also, when you pay acc for vehicle licensing it is specifically for the occupants of THAT vehicle. You are not insuring yourself, you are insuring all the occupants and this is non-transferable from one vehicle to another. Therefore, paying ACC on your car is totally irreverent to paying ACC on your motorcycle.
If anyone should be getting ACC relief it is the self employed who are punished purely because they are self employed, not because of any costs or risks that they impose on the scheme.
Motorcyclist's are lower on the list of priorities in my view, especially if Phil Goff thinks he should pay less so the self employed can subsidise his ACC levy - what a complete bludging hypocrite.
We should have the option to get coverage from private sources & ACC should be opened to competition. If you don't agree then try paying your fair share instead of riding on other peoples backs, & stop whinging when you can't bludge off them anymore.
@Mista 146, any insurance broker worth his salt could line you up with life insurance (to around $250k), income protection insurance (to around $120k pa), and health insurance to cover specialist and surgical/hospital care for $1000 a year. So, I'm sure if you required a little less than that you would do just fine at $800 a year.
If the bikers choose to engage in dangerous acts, they should pay higher insurance premiums. That's how insurance works. There is an actuarially fair price for insurance policies that increases as the risk increases. It also doesn't matter who causes the accidents. If I get an insurance policy against burglary and I live in a terrible neighbourhood, my policy will cost me more, EVEN though I'm not responsible for my house getting burgled.
There is no free lunch here. If the bikers don't pay, someone else has to. Asking everyone else to foot the bill is unfair. Why should I have to subsidise bikers? Especially since there is nothing desirable to society about riding a motor bike. I can see the point of subsidising children's sports or people who ride bicycles because their activities are desirable. Why should we subsidise people to ride around in loud, gas-guzzling motorcycles though?!
@Darren #127: I'd love to see you get almost unlimited insurance cover for $800 per annum. Do you have the faintest idea of what your $800 covers you for?
1. ALL vehicles on the road are guilty of speeding - not just motorcycles. @ Robert #107; fail to see your point. 2. ALL drivers on the road are guilty of not being as attentive as they should - not just motorcycle riders.
- Dre #120 - YOU ARE A TOOL.
@ Bassa #103
According to govt stats, between 2003- 2007 39% of motorcycle accidents involved another vehicle and there was no rider fault identified. 51% of motorcycle accidents are primarily the rider at fault (both single and multi vehicle).
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Scrap the whole ACC scheme! Make people pay for government subsidized health insurance. Our Health system would improve beyond doubt. Doctors would be paid better wages and we wouldnt have health professionals migrating overseas for higher wages.