ACC Changes Still Discriminate Unfairly

“The original thinking behind ACC was that it was to be a no-fault system, thereby allowing it to avoid all the problems that come with attributing fault and responsibility for accidents.” says MTA spokesman Ian Stronach.

“Because ACC is capable of identifying certain groups, it’s targeting them with cost increases while other higher risk groups are avoiding these increases.  That seems to us to go against the original intent of the act; it’s not really a fair go.”

While MTA, along with many other groups, shares concerns for the rising costs of some groups, most notably motorcyclists, it is not convinced that the path ACC is taking is necessarily fair or effective.  Pleasingly though, while increases in rates are never welcomed, those that have been announced are at a level that will make them more liveable for most New Zealanders, and Government is to be commended for that.

“There are many other high risk recreational, occupational and transport user groups that because they cannot be so easily identified, or charged, are able to avoid the full impact of these increases.  On top of this, there are some concerns as to the accuracy of some of the reporting of various classes and types of accidents.” added Stronach.

The striking levels of risk associated with groups such as cyclists have been well publicised, and yet they are not being targeted in this way.  Likewise, the users of off-road motorcycles are not facing these large increases, simply because there’s no effective mechanism to do so.

“It would serve both ACC, these supposed ‘high risk groups’ and the taxpayers of New Zealand well  if a more equitable means was found to appropriately apportion the real costs of this system to those areas where they actually lie.”