David Carter National Party Agriculture Spokesman

22 December 2004

Con job on land access doesn't wash

"Labour's trying to pull the wool over farmers' eyes with its latest con job on land access," says National Party Agriculture spokesman David Carter.

"This is the classic Labour delaying tactic. Take one political hot potato, put on simmer with 'so-called public consultation', then serve it up as planned after the election when the heat has died out of the issue.

"Under Labour, consultation has become a meaningless buzz-word. For examples of the Government's double-speak on this you need look no further than the way the foreshore and seabed bill was railroaded through Parliament.

"So cynical is the Government's handling of this sensitive issue that the Minister has deliberately sat on his policy since the end of March, only releasing it in the busy period before Christmas.

"Mr Sutton can pretend to be listening all he likes, but the reality is that if Labour is re-elected, this rural land-grab will be back on the agenda in a big way. The last thing the Government wants is another 'fart tax' protest in election year," says Mr Carter.

ENDS

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