Hands off ACC levy hike for farmers
David Carter National Agriculture Spokesperson
6 November 2002
Hands off ACC levy hike for farmers
The Government will be hard-pressed to justify any hike in ACC levies for agriculture, says National's Agriculture spokesman, David Carter.
Figures obtained by Mr Carter show that injury statistics from the farming sector have remained stable over the past four years. There were 12 serious workplace accidents on farms in 1999, and so far this year there have been just three.
On-farm work fatalities have averaged 14 each year for the past four years.
"These figures prove that there's no justification in increasing ACC levies for agriculture. If injury rates haven't gone up, why should ACC levies?
"It's hardly surprising that ACC Minister, Ruth Dyson, has been reluctant to reply to my questions on this matter. In fact, she has been so reluctant that I have twice had to raise with the Speaker problems I have been having obtaining information from Ms Dyson.
"Now, I can understand why. The figures I have clearly show that ACC can't justify another round of massive levy increases for farmers," says Mr Carter.
Ends