Unions' ACC rally at Parliament

Scoop Pictures: Unions' ACC rally at Parliament
By Kerry Tankard

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Following on from the massive BIKOI on 17 November2009, when thousands of bikers rallied in Parliament grounds to show their opposition to targeted ACC levy raises, hundreds of protesters gathered at lunchtime today.

This time the unions organised a good turnout, under the banner of the ACC Futures Coalition, with support rallied from the Kiwibiker organisation who were also out in force. PSA, NZNO, EPMU, NDU, CTU, RMTU, and several left-wing organisations such as the Worker's Party, AWSM, and Unite! were present. The forecourt held a variety of MP's across the spectrum, Labour and Greens in the main.

Speakers included Green MP and co-leader Metiria Turei, members of the counselling community and the Kiwibiker forums.

Speakers made the point that information about costs of accidents is available on the ACC website, and that any analysis of the data available does not show that motorcyclists are at a greater risk of accident, and especially that higher CC-rated bikes are not involved in more accidents, to the contrary, bikes under 250cc (ie: learner licence levels) are more likely to be involved in an injury-related accident. Kiwibiker investigators were asked to pay $10,000 for a copy of a report done in Australia about the reasons for the ACC levies, which was instigated by the staff of the new Minister, the Hon Nick Smith, who was conspicuous by his absence today.
View the Fairness At Work website here and a statement from the ACC Futures Coalition here.

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ENDS

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