18 Nov 2009

More motorbike protests planned

6:54 pm on 18 November 2009

Motorbike protesters against proposed hikes in ACC levies will be out in force again this weekend.

Thousands of motorcyclists rallied at Parliament on Tuesday to vent their anger against proposed increases to ACC levies, of in some cases nearly $500 extra a year.

Auckland organiser Anne James says the protest at Parliament was just the beginning.

She says bikers will enter the city on Sunday and occupy car parking spaces. Further action will be discussed later this week.

Under the proposed changes, owners of petrol-powered motorbikes of more than 600cc could see their fee rise from $252.69 to $745.77, while owners of petrol-powered mopeds face a rise from $58.97 to $257.58.

The Accident Compensation Corporation will look through 2,500 submissions on the proposed changes and give its recommendation to the Government next month.