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The Government will make a second attempt to get controversial changes to the ACC scheme through its first reading in Parliament.

Prime Minister John Key said yesterday that the Government would move the House into urgency from today to push through changes to the “boy-racer” legislation and the victim levy bill.

National is negotiating with ACT and the Maori Party for the votes to pass its ACC changes after being forced to shelve the first reading of the proposed legislation last week through lack of support. Progress is being made, but it’s a little too early to tell whether it will be this week,” Key said.

“We’re in negotiations with our partners.

Motorcyclists bear the brunt of the levy increases, but all motorists, and most workers, will pay more from next year.

ACC Minister Nick Smith has unveiled a range of levy increases and changes to entitlements, and a move to shift the full funding of the scheme out to 2019.

The Government will need to get the legislation sent to a parliamentary select committee soon if it is to have any hope of making the changes law by February.

The Maori Party is pushing for tougher criteria proposed for disability payments to be dropped in return for its support, while ACT wants the Government to investigate part-privatisation. If it does not, the ACC’s even steeper levy increases will take effect.

ACT had said it would look at supporting the bill and had put its policy to introduce competition into work place accident insurance on the table.

Mr Key met with Act leader Rodney Hide last night seeking support for the ACC bill.

PROTEST AGAINST CHANGES

Anger over the Government’s plans continued yesterday, with protests in the main centres over proposed cuts to entitlements.It is National Party policy to investigate opening up the part of the scheme that covers work-related personal injuries to private competition, and ACT was likely to push for that.

Victims of sexual abuse are angry that they would need to prove they had suffered mental trauma as a result of sexual abuse before getting ACC-funded treatment.

Victims of sexual abuse are angry that they would need to prove they had suffered mental trauma as a result of sexual abuse before getting ACC-funded treatment.

The ACC proposals include a threshold of a 6 per cent hearing loss before a person is entitled for assistance for hearing aids.

The New Zealand logical Society yesterday accused the Government of turning its back on thousands of people whose hearing has been damaged at work. .

Society president Lesley Hindmarsh said thousands of people with occupational hearing loss, who were previously entitled to ACC help for their hearing aids, may no longer be eligible

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ACC Minister Nick Smith has apologised for saying he would throw himself under a train because his family would benefit under ACC’s current policy.

Dr Smith yesterday announced increases to ACC levies and cuts to some entitlements.

One area to be scrapped was compensation paid to the families of those who commit suicide. ACC was facing financial difficulty which Dr Smith attributed to claims largely out-weighing levies.

“If my doctor told me that I was terminally ill and I had 30 days to live, with the ACC rules the way they are, I’d be finding myself a train to throw myself under on the 29th day because my family would be treated so much more generously,” he said.

If someone with a family committed suicide the family could have been given almost $1 million in compensation over time, Dr Smith told reporters gathered to hear about the ACC changes.

Suicide was tragic but not an accident, he said. .

Opposition MPs, families affected by suicide and people who work in the area were angered by Dr Smith’s comments.

People who die from heart disease or cancer left behind families who were “equally disadvantaged” by the loss of a partner and income.

“What I was attempting to do was make the point that while suicide is a tragedy, it’s not an accident.

Today, he apologised and said he his comments were an “unfortunate analogy”.”

Suicide was a “sensitive area”, he said.

“I’m happy to apologise if offence has been taken.”

Progressive Party leader Jim Anderton said Dr Smith was being “cowardly and insensitive”.

“It’s a tragedy I wouldn’t wish on anybody.

“If the children or loved one of a suicide victim don’t get our support through ACC, then where do they get it from?” Mr Anderton asked.

By removing compensation to the family of those who commit suicide he was “effectively victimising these most vulnerable”.

Labour’s ACC spokesperson David Parker said Dr Smith’s comments were “intemperate” and having to apologise compounded his embarrassment at not having political support for the ACC legislation.

Mr Anderton’s own family has suffered a suicide.

Cabinet have approved the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill, but National will need support of either the Maori or ACT parties to pass it.

Asked who was going to support the changes to ACC legislation Dr Smith today told Parliament he was “having discussions with a number of parties”. Maori and ACT each hold five.

National hold 58 seats in the 122-seat Parliament.

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Motorcyclists say there will be loud protests against the proposed $500 ACC levy increase on large bikes.

“It’s ludicrous – what are they thinking of?” Motorcycling New Zealand chief executive Paul Pavletich said.

Owners of bikes over 601cc will see their annual ACC levy increase from $252.77 under the proposal. .69 to $511.

Those owning bikes from 126cc to 600cc face an increase from $252.43.97 jump in the licence portion of the ACC levy to $257.

The nation’s 20,000 moped owners each face a $58. Mopeds – classed as having a power output of two kilowatts or less and a maximum design speed of 50kmh – will be lumped in with small motorcycles.58.98.

The proposed levy increases are on top of motorcycle registration – currently $129.

The ACC says motorcycle riders are 16 times more likely to be involved in a crash than other road users.

The ACC says motorcycle riders are 16 times more likely to be involved in a crash than other road users.3m in levies from them.

In 2008-09, the ACC paid more than $62 million to motorcycle riders but collected only $12.

Pavletich predicted a massive outcry from riders.

Charging motorcycle owners the true injury cost would put levies at between $1200 and $3700, ACC said.”

Wayne Potter, of Christchurch’s Rolling Thunder Motor Co, said the increase would deter many weekend riders. “This is a huge kick in the teeth. “I thought it was a joke when I first heard of the increase. Many owners would put their registrations on hold over winter.”

Christchurch Sportzone Suzuki sales manager Dean Parker said some riders would no longer register their bikes. This is shocking.”

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Smith looks to curb ACC rise

By MARTIN KAY Friday, 05 December 2008

Workerson the average wage could pay $20 a week in ACC levies by 2011 under Labour Department proposals to cover the rising cost of injuries.
The figure would seriously erode the extra cash that someone on the average wage of $47,000 would receive under National's tax cuts in the next three years.
ACC Minister Nick Smith said he was concerned at the recommended increases, and was exploring ways to curb them.20 per $100 by 2011.
The department had recommended raising workers' levies to $2 for each $100 earned next year, moving to $2.40, but ACC has recommended increasing it to $1.
The present levy is $1.70 next year.
"I am concerned that [the proposed levy increases] are too much and am trying to work on whether there is any way we can constrain costs realistically.
However, Dr Smith said the department, which also provides advice on levies, said that would not cover rising medical and treatment costs, increasing numbers of claims and decreased rates of rehabilitation."
Dr Smith said he had to decide the new rate quickly, but his immediate priority was getting the $1.
"I certainly do not wish to impose these sorts of costs on households, but also must take a prudent approach to ensuring ACC's ongoing viability. .2 billion extra ACC needed for the non-earners account, which paid for accidents to children, students and others not in work and was government-funded. The main issue was when "the pain" was passed on – next year or later. The main issue was when "the pain" was passed on – next year or later. That would rise to $15.65 a week.70, as recommended by ACC.36 if the levy moved to $1.
National's tax cuts will give the average worker not receiving the new independent earners rebate $18 a week from April 1 and a further $6 in 2011.
The department's recommendation would cause the average worker's payments to rise to $18 a week next year, $19 in 2010 and $20 in 2011.
Dr Smith said that extending the date for fully funding the earners account, paid by workers' levies, would have a negligible effect as it was almost fully funded now.
A third of that $24 would be clawed back in higher ACC levies under the department's proposals.

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Labour ACC spokesperson David Parker accused Dr Smith of scaremongering, claiming he was talking up funding issues in ACC to soften the public for privatisation