Companies face trebling of A.C.C. levies

Press, 14 March 1987, Page 8

Companies face trebling of A.C.C. levies

Proposed increases in accident ' compensation levies would force one Canterbury manufacturer ■to increase its annual payments from $27,545 to $80,095, and another from $15,000 to $48,000. Those were two of the findings of a survey of selected firms made by the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, which is campaigning against the proposed levy increases. The association’s president, Mr Alan Shadwell, said that the Government and the Accident Compensation Corporation were failing to recognise the level of concern among manufacturers. However, the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Palmer, has announced a review of the scheme by the Law Commission. The Manufacturers’ Federa-

tion has welcomed the move, and has asked for a freeze on levies until the review is complete. Canterbury manufacturers supported that call, said Mr Shadwell. “Some C.M.A. members are saying they will not pay the increased levy, especially as almost half their levies are funding non-work accidents. ; ,i “While we have reminded these members of their legal responsibilities, we fully appreciate their concern and anger at such severe increases,” Mr Shadwell said. “In today’s tight economic conditions these increases by a Governmentcontrolled corporation, which now has no employer on its board, are quite unacceptable to the business sectors,” he said.