David Carter National Agriculture Spokesman

1 April 2004

Labour responsible for growing farm costs

The Labour Government is the biggest contributor to increasing farming costs says National's Agriculture spokesman David Carter.

Opening the Meat And Fibre Producers' national conference and AGM in Christchurch yesterday (31 March), Mr Carter identified increases in electricity prices, ACC levies and local body rates as seriously impacting on every farmer's business.

"Input prices have been relatively stable for the past 12 months. In fact, fertiliser, animal health, and weed and pest control have declined in price.

"But these benefits have been lost because of Labour Party policies.

"ACC levies have increased 13% in the past twelve months, but more importantly have doubled over the past four years.

"Electricity has gone up by 18% in the past year, and that was before the bombshell decision to abandon Project Aqua.

"Local body rates have climbed 5% in the past year and 13% in the past four years. And they will continue to rise substantially in the next few years with the changes to local government legislation.

"For the past four years Labour has burdened agriculture with ever-increasing costs without thought for the long-term impacts on our economy", says Mr Carter.

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