新西兰英语 202 ACC

　　Last week, the ACC Chairman said that ACC needs to increase levies¹ that we pay. ACC means Accident Compensation Corporation. It provides insurance to pay for health care if we have an accident. This is a “No Fault” insurance because we cannot sue a person who causes an accident. Of course if the person who caused an accident was breaking the law like drinking and driving, then the police will take that person to court.
There are three kinds of payment to ACC. Employers pay a levy² of about 1.3% of all earnings³. This depends on the kind of business. Shop owners pay low levies while a more dangerous business pays a higher levy. Workers pay levies of about 1.7% of their salary. This is to pay for accidents outside work, like accidents in the home or when playing sport. Workers’ levies could increase to about 2.5% of their salaries. We also pay a levy as part of our car registration⁴. This could increase by about $100.
Motor cyclists may pay much higher levies than at the moment. Owners of powerful motor bikes, more than 600cc, could pay about $750 a year instead of $250 a year for their registration. This is a very big increase and motor cyclists are very angry about this.
These increases are only suggestions at the moment. You can write to ACC telling them what you think. You must do this by November 10th.

1 levies   

（部队）征兵( levy的名词复数 )； 募捐； 被征募的军队

参考例句：

• At that time, taxes and levies were as many as the hairs on an ox. 那时，苛捐杂税多如牛毛。
• Variable levies can insulate farmers and consumers from world markets. 差价进口税可以把农民和消费者与世界市场隔离开来。

2 levy   

n.征收税或其他款项，征收额

参考例句：

• They levy a tax on him.他们向他征税。
• A direct food levy was imposed by the local government.地方政府征收了食品税。

3 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

4 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？