Farmers hit again by ACC

Farmers are angry that once again ACC's proposes to increase their levies, says Charlie Pedersen, Federated Farmers National Vice President.

"ACC has proposed a 5-8% increase for the wages we pay to our employees and a huge 30-35% increase for the self-employed," said Mr Pedersen.

"This follows a 15% increase on employees and a 35 - 40% increase for self-employed this year.

"Last year ACC blamed the levy increases on farmers injury rates. This was proven to be incorrect.

"While Federated Farmers is working closely with ACC on reducing injuries in the farming sector we are still waiting for ACC to provide us with meaningful analyses that justifies the 50% increase in workplace premiums on employees and over 80% increase in workplace premiums for self-employed that have occurred since ACC was re-nationalised.

"Figures provided to Federated Farmers show that while injury rates in farming are higher than many other industries that the rates have been falling. We are therefore at a loss to understand why our levies have increased and are now above those we were paying to the private sector in 1999.

Federated Farmers will continue to work closely with ACC to achieved reduced injury rates. However if ACC cannot provide a valid explanation as to why our ACC rates have, and continue to increase when our injury rates have fallen then we will have no option but to seek a return to choice in ACC, said Mr Pedersen.

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