Farmers face huge ACC levy increases

National MPs David Carter and Paul Hutchison are outraged at the way the Government has handled huge increases in ACC levies for farmers.

In October, ACC’s board recommended an average rise of 3.9% for self-employed people, and a 4.8% increase in the motor vehicle levy.

But it has just been announced that self-employed livestock farmers face an income rate levy increase of 43% as of April 1 next year, and a non-income rate increase of 18%.

“The changes were quietly announced on Thursday while the media and the rest of the country were focussed on civil unions and the release of Ahmed Zaoui,” says Dr Hutchison.

“ACC Minister Ruth Dyson must explain how the state monopoly arrives at such exorbitant figures.”

Mr Carter says the increases will hit the productive sector of the economy very hard.

“Since Labour came into power, farmers have faced a barrage of new and increased compliance costs.

“They are fed up with being the major contributor to this Government’s insatiable demand for tax revenue.

“Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton has spent five years sitting round the Cabinet table but has failed dismally in representing the interests of farmers. If he can’t do the job, he should step aside and let someone else do it.”

The MPs say that competition in accident insurance is the only way levies will be fairly billed.

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