Motorbikes arrive in Wellington to protest the ACC levy rises. Photo / NZPA
The Government is promising to consider the concerns of bikers protesting against proposed increases in ACC levies.
Up to 5000 motorcyclists formed a 'bikoi' to make their feelings about projected ACC levy hikes known to ACC Minister Nick Smith this afternoon.
Dr Smith said he'd had constructive discussions with representatives
from the protest this afternoon.
"There is some dispute over some of the numbers that ACC's using and I'm happy to have a look at their figures and have a look at ACC's figures and make sure that before the Cabinet makes a decision they've got good reliable numbers," Dr Smith said.
Dr Smith says it is unlikely the Government will agree to the scale of levy increases that is being proposed.
The ACC Minister has also released records on rising motorcycle accident rates.
He says last year 46 motorcyclists died in accidents, the highest number in a decade. He says there has also been a huge rise in motorbike accident claims; from 871 in 1998 to 5,044 last year.
Dr Smith says the increases cannot be explained away as being due to more motorbikes on the road. He says in 1998 there was an ACC claim for every 69 bikes, but now there is one for every 19.
Earlier Dr Smith was loudly booed when he appeared before the protesters outside Parliament.
The protestors believe they are being unfairly victimised, saying there are other high risk sports and recreations that not being levied at all, which is not fair. They say one group should not be singled out.
Protestor Charlie Langham claims the numbers Dr Smith has been putting out are not correct.
"Targeting these guys to try and double their levies is to deflect the argument away from what it really is - which is about ultimately setting ACC up for a commercialisation."
Mr Langham says the reality is motorcyclists already pay higher levies than anyone else on the road, which is unjustifiable.
Police say today's protest was an orderly affair, the bikers were well behaved and there were no arrests.
District road policing manager Inspector Peter Baird says given the large number of people involved, they are happy with the way things have gone.
Under the new ACC scheme, the cost of registering a moped would rise $58.97 to $257.58.
All motorcycles currently cost $252.69 but from 2010/11 those 125cc-600cc would rise to $511.43 while those over 600cc will be $745.77.
- NZHERALD STAFF with NZPA
