PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
20 September 2013

Bikers Rights Organisation of New Zealand (BRONZ) Federation Inc
ACC Levy Consultation and the Motorcycle ACC Levy

The 2014/15 ACC Levy Consultation is open, and ACC have proposed decreases of 15% to earners’ and motorists’ levies, and 17% decreases to employers. However they have specifically excluded a reduction to the ACC levy for motorcyclists, without supplying a new explanation. As representatives of the motorcycling community we believe this to be a discriminatory measure and we would like the opportunity to respond to this.

ACC have claimed that motorcycle injury costs have increased markedly, resulting in a requirement for the levy to increase in recent years. Research undertaken by Dr Charles Lamb in 2010 clearly demonstrated that the opposite has occurred, despite the huge increase in the motorcycle fleet. Meanwhile, the Government have twisted the data to suit their needs by carefully manipulating timeframes to paint the dire picture they so desire in order to justify continuation of an increased levy on the motorcycle riders in New Zealand. This picture is a fallacy.

The fleet size has tripled if not quadrupled since the late 80’s and is growing faster than ever due to the hike in fuel costs. Yet motorcyclists now make up only 9 percent of all road users injured, compared to 21 percent in the early and mid-1980s. The truth is a change from pay-as-you-go to fully funded model is a more accurate explanation for their requirement for extra levies.

Motorcyclists are attending more training than ever. Information on, and availability of, good quality safety gear has never been more than it is now. Yet the levy stands, while other vehicles that have had raised levies now face a reduction, despite there being no evidence of any reduction in the costs these vehicle types induce on an annual basis and even less evidence of any extra training undertaken by these road users.

Local councils and ACC are subsidising training and safety courses all over New Zealand and these courses are fully booked within days of announcement. Motorcyclists nationwide have taken to these training sessions at a very high uptake rate and it is not slowing down – in fact demand for more courses is increasing, and groups like Ulysses and BRONZ have created mentor programs and have for some time hosted beginner confidence rides organised to improve the standard of rider ability from day one. Bikers across the country are taking every opportunity available to up skill themselves to become better and safer riders - yet this is not recognised by the very organisation that’s helping to sponsor the training. The levy remains unchanged.

This reinforces our war cry of the 2009 campaign against the levy hike – that we are discriminated against because we are EASY TARGETS.

Too many policy makers are still looking at motorcycles and seeing two wheeled boy racers or gang members, when the reality is far different – we are sensible and safe everyday people, choosing a means of transport that contributes greatly to reducing congestion, environmental pollution and waste.

ACC are considering risk-based discounts on ACC levies based on contentious safety studies sponsored by manufacturers of motor vehicles, while at the same time refusing to acknowledge the effort the motorcycling fraternity is making to improve safety. Much has been said of safety features like ABS making the car fleet safer, yet this technology is ubiquitous amongst the motorcycle fleet they consider to be so much more dangerous than cars.

This farce must at last be seen for exactly what it is, a method to boost ACC’s income to make it attractive for sale to private insurance companies. It’s a tactic that has failed abysmally to gain acceptance, and as a result ACC is overweight with money - billions in surplus - yet the current government seems to insist ‘those dirty bikers have to keep paying’.

It’s time to get real ACC.

We have been patient, we have worked with you to achieve the results you’ve been asking for, but we won’t be patient forever. We’ve protested in the past about the unfairness of the ACC levy, and we’ve held off repeating this because of the massive disruption it causes.

But you’re not listening. If you can justify a reduction on all the other levy accounts, then bikers should also get their fair piece of the pie. We do more for our own safety than any other road user group, while continuing to pay more in ACC, and it’s time we got a fair go.

Byron Cummins
Federation Spokesperson
BRONZ Federation Inc

ENDS

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