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Farmers face being hit in the pocket under proposed changes to Accident Compensation.
Gerald Holmes could soon have to pay 70% more in ACC levies and he says those already struggling won't be able to cope.
"This is just another major blow, under the new levy we would be up to $6,000 a year just for staff," says Holmes.
He says "it's just another bureaucratic cost that gets delivered to us".
But ACC says farming, for all it adds to the country, is also a big cost .
"A lot of risks on the farm were unnecessary, a lot of the accidents were unnecessary," says ACC chairman John Judge.
In the last five years work-related claims on farms have risen 25% to $80 million a year. But Holmes says it is an accident prone industry "when you're dealing with livestock and machines".
A well known culprit for farming accidents is the quad bike. ACC says it is one of the biggest causes of work-related injuries on the farm, but farmers say it is an integral part of what they do every day.
ACC says creating safer work environments would help, but farmers say ACC is getting out of control and they can't get money back from consumers.
"None of this cost will be passed on to consumers directly from the farm, because we're price takers not price makers," says Holmes.
Farmers have just over three weeks to have a say before the consultation period is over.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentmouthguard said on 2009-12-10 @ 14:59 NZDT: Report abusive post
The unfair bit is this: the ACC forms for accident claims have a wee box that you fill in about how it happened. If you mention a motorbike, then that statistic goes on.This includes farm bikes that are responsible for a lot of injury claims, but are responsible for no ACC levies as they are not registered. That is why you are being screwed roadbikers. Blame the farmers, levy them, it is only fair.
Pucky said on 2009-12-10 @ 14:41 NZDT: Report abusive post
I'm sorry that Tiggy obvously doesn't understand bikers. I myself live in a family of bikers. All of whom are resposible, sensible riders. Why does this person believe if a car (or truck) hits US it is us who should pay? Does tiggy also believe if they get hit by a larger vehicle then they should pay for there own treatment? We already pay higher registration fees. Bikes also produce less greenhouse gases surely this should be taken into account.
tiggy said on 2009-12-04 @ 13:22 NZDT: Report abusive post
Bikers should pay up! If you choose to ride a bike and your involved in an accident you will suffer a more serious injury, doesnt matter if its your fault or not. Choose to ride..choose to pay!!
diogenes said on 2009-12-03 @ 00:51 NZDT: Report abusive post
I also am thoroughly disgusted with these antics and I am not a biker although have been and was contemplating selling our older second car and buying a new 250. Looks like that ain't now going to happen! Using cc rating as any sort of a yardstick anyway is a joke! I've known of souped up 125s blowing the pants off 250 cruisers. Somehow cc rating is being equated with speed. I'm with bikers all the way in opposing this iniquitous hike in charges! And .. last time I'll be voting National!
wasteoftime said on 2009-12-01 @ 21:07 NZDT: Report abusive post
Agree it is totally unfair, but we riders don't help ourselves by blaming others. Fact is a third of bike crashes only involve the bike, of the rest half are the riders fault and half the other drivers. So at least 2/3 are the riders fault, and you could say that if you get hit by a car you generally deserve it for not riding defensively. Sometimes we shouldn't shout too loudly - just give it the berries when nobody is watching.