22 MAY 2015

Farmers Get Crumbs From Budget 2015

Budget 2015 offers crumbs for farmers, despite this being hard times for the people who are the lifeblood of our country, says New Zealand First.

“The National government has shown them little support, and we believe they won’t put up with it forever,” says Spokesperson for Primary Industries Richard Prosser.

“There is a clear lack of priority for the sector given what Minister of Primary Industries Nathan Guy has managed to extract from his Auckland-focussed Cabinet colleagues.

“The Minister is only ranked at number 14 in Cabinet and that pretty much sums up the lack of priority this government affords our primary industry sector, which is the number one contributor to the economy. You’d think they’d put him at least in the top 10.

“It’s worse than an oversight to not have a funding increase for the Overseer Nutrient Management Tool, to make it fit for purpose, especially when regional councils are using it to set rules around farm nutrients.

“This past year has been hard for many farmers with lower dairy prices, the lamb schedule and drought. A boost to the funding for Rural Support Trusts is sorely needed, but sadly zilch.

“Funding for the rural vet bonding scheme is frozen too and there is no mention of money to assist reform of the red meat industry.

“Biosecurity, our supposed shield of defence, is a case of smoke and mirrors with the new border tax not clearly tagged for 100 per cent X-raying of luggage – in the hold, hand-held, through the mail and freight. While a border tax is welcome we hope it means staffing of the Biosecurity hotline 24 hours a day, every day.

“The government is in danger of putting our primary producers and economy in the red – more proof that the budget really is a Split Enz budget,” says Mr Prosser.

“Taking Northland for granted cost them dearly, and it appears they’re dead set on making the same mistake with cockies all over the regions,” he says.

ENDS

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