Wednesday, 28 August 2019 07:55

More compliance costs coming

Written by  David Anderson
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor.

Farmers already under the pump in trying to meet the requirements of the Government’s impending Zero Carbon Bill legislation will soon be hit soon by even more compliance costs.

With new freshwater standards to be announced in the next few weeks, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor told TVNZ’s Q&A programme that he expects farmers’ costs in meeting new freshwater rules will be about “1-2%.”

O’Connor conceded that even more costs are not something farmers want, yet he expects them to “absorb” them.

While the minister claimed the Government opposes laying even more compliance costs on businesses, he said “some extra costs are essential” and “improved water quality across the country is wanted and necessary”.

Meanwhile, in the interview O’Connor also put the boot into Fonterra’s former board and management for the dairy co-op’s current woes.

“Crazy decisions made over the years are now coming home to roost,” he told Q&A.

But he says the “new” board and management is now being upfront and honest with farmers in its writedowns of the value of the co-op’s investments.

O’Connor was quick to point the finger at Fonterra’s “old” management and governance, saying it was “a good thing” former chief executive Theo Spierings is now gone. He also labelled Spierings’ $4.7 million exit payment as “ridiculous”.

“That is something the old board would have to answer for,” he said.

On the upcoming Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA) revision, O’Connor said the bill coming before Parliament is “about right”. He claims it will provide Fonterra a bit more protection.

“It means Fonterra [won’t] have to pick up all new milk supply and imposes new environmental and animal welfare requirements on farmers.”

But the minister says he has an open mind about making changes arising from the work of the parliamentary select committee.

More like this

Featured

Farmers urged not to be complacent about TB

New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.

Editorial: Making wool great again

OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.

National

Machinery & Products

Farmer-led group buys Novag

While the name and technology remain unchanged and new machines will continue to carry the Novag name, all the assets,…

Buhler name to go

Shareholders at a special meeting have approved a proposed deal that will see Buhler Industries, the publicly traded Versatile and…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Make it 1000%!

OPINION: The appendage swinging contest between the US and China continues, with China hitting back with a new rate of…

Own goal

OPINION: The irony of President Trump’s tariff obsession is that the worst damage may be done to his own people.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter