Hon Jim Anderton

Member of Parliament for Wigram

Progressive Leader

9 December 2009 Media Statement

After a year, government does nothing for R&D

The Minister of Agriculture, David Carter said in parliament today that he was ‘adhering to his own strict timetable’ which appears to be to do nothing and spend nothing in the first year of National-led government on primary sector research and development, says Opposition Spokesperson for Agriculture, and Progressive Party leader Jim Anderton.

“The National government canned the Fast Forward Fund as soon as it came to power and replaced it with its own Primary Growth Partnership.

“After a year in office they’re not even out of the planning phase,” Jim Anderton said in parliament today.

“Projects were being developed and progress was under way through the ‘Fast Forward’ fund, set up by us the Labour/Progressive government at the time the National party came to power.

“There was already $700 million in the MAF accounts, ready to fund applications.”

$700 million was transferred to the Fast Forward fund in November just before the election in 2008. Organisations like Fonterra, Meat & Wool, Dairy New Zealand and others had committed to match this amount over approximately five years to ten years.

“In this current financial year, not one cent has been paid out for any research and innovation project, and no payment is likely any time soon.

“Under John Key’s leadership, new primary sector research and development has virtually stopped, even though agriculture, horticulture, forestry and fishing are our most important and productive economic resources,” says Jim Anderton.

ENDS

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