Wednesday, 23 September 2020 14:09

$50m commitment not enough for farmers — National

Written by Staff Reporters

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

National’s ag spokesperson David Bennett.

Labour’s $50 million commitment to support integrated farm planning will do little for farmers, claims National’s ag spokesperson David Bennett.

He says Labour doesn’t back farmers and today’s announcement will do little to ease burden of meeting regulations.

“Today’s promises around farm environment plans will do little to alleviate the individual farm cost and won’t necessarily mean that there will be a streamlined process for all farmers,” says Bennett.

“Labour can’t be trusted to deliver reasonable and rational rules when farmers know the true intentions of their party."

Bennett says Labour’s changes to winter grazing won’t be of much help to farmers.

“Minster O’Connor has said that consent for winter grazing will no longer be required and will instead come under a new system. Farmers will be wary of what this new system looks like and will be afraid it’s just more of the same from Labour.

“This is just more tinkering, which is occurring because of their own failed processes that didn’t consult with farmers.

“Right now we need our farmers to be positive, investing, creating jobs and getting us through the Covid crisis – Labour doesn’t back them but National does.”

National will be releasing policies for the primary sector tomorrow.

More like this

Dreams aren't plans

OPINION: Milking It reckons if you're National, looking at recent polls, the dream scenario is that the elusive economic recovery finally roars to life.

If voters see some growth and wages rising faster than prices, the government could say they've "fixed" things as they ride into the next election.

Back here on Earth though, the economy they inherited is a basket case, and the long-term headwinds are fierce.

Political commentator Liam Hehir says, "dreams are not plans" and if the turnaround doesn't come in time, National may have no choice but to go negative.

"Everybody wants to fight on the economy if they can. But when neither side has a compelling story, the contest shifts to other issues. That's not new. In fact, it's the stuff of politics everywhere, always."

Trop de Paris!

OPINION: Your old mate's ear has been chewed off recently by farmers voicing their displeasure with the National Party, particularly relating to how they're treating their farmer base.

Gaslight much?

OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts started after their disastrous Covid response; now trying to undermine the Covid inquiry to protect his own backside.

Labour warns against sacrificing productive farmland for housing expansion

Labour's agriculture spokesperson Jo Luxton says while New Zealand needs more housing, sacrificing our best farmland to get there is not the answer.

Farmers win as government scraps proposed Fringe Benefit Tax on utes

Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.

Featured

Fonterra seeks strong farmer mandate for sale

Fonterra chair Peter McBride expects a strong mandate from farmers shareholders for the proposed sale of its consumer and related businesses to Lactalis for $3.8 billion.

A great outcome - Hurrell

Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says the sale of the co-op’s consumer and associated businesses to Lactalis represents a great outcome for the co-op.

Lactalis to buy Fonterra's consumer business for $3.8b

The world’s largest milk company Lactalis has won the bid for Fonterra’s global consumer and associated businesses.

Fonterra lifts milk price forecast to $10.15/kgMS

Fonterra has increased its 2024/25 forecast Farmgate Milk Price from $10/kgMS to $10.15/kgMS.

Choosing farming over the classroom pays off

It took a stint at university to remind Otago dairy farmer Megan Morrison that being stuck in a classroom was not for her.

Feds throw support behind Climate Change Response Amendment Bill

Farmer lobby group Federated Farmers has announced it is supporting a new Member’s Bill which it says could bring clarity to New Zealand farmers and save millions in legal costs.