ACC levy hike yet another attack on rural NZ

Monday 13 Dec 2004
Gerry Eckhoff
Press Releases -- Rural

ACT Rural Affairs spokesman Gerry Eckhoff today slammed the Labour Government's decision to hike up farmers' ACC levies.

ACC has announced that self-employed farmers face an income rate levy increase of 43 percent and a non-income rate increase of 18 percent as of 1 April 2005.

"Yet again, rural New Zealand is being pummelled by a Labour Government that doesn't give two hoots about farmers," Mr Eckhoff said.

"Under Helen Clark's leadership, farmers have endured school closures, police downsizing, petrol tax hikes, the fart tax, and the possible loss of their property rights.

"At every turn, Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton has failed to stand up for the farming community he purports to represent at the Cabinet table.

"When will Labour recognise that farming remains the backbone of our economy and start treating it as such? It should be ashamed of the way it treats farmers.

"ACT believes this latest attack is unwarranted and discriminatory, and underlines the need for competition in accident insurance.

"I call on the Government to review its decision and give rural New Zealand a fair go," Mr Eckhoff said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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