4 November 2011

Taxpayers to stump up for goose culls

News that Federated Farmers have gone cap in hand to taxpayers to fund the culling of Canada Geese is a blatant acknowledgement that farmers are unable to effectively manage these animals, said UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne.

In March when the decision was made to move geese from Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Act to Schedule 5 I expressed my concern at the Government’s decision.

“The decision means that Fish and Game no longer manage goose numbers and the onus is on farmers to manage the population, the result Federated Farmers wanted.”

“The admission now from Federated Farmers that they have to go to the Government to ask for $400 000 to do it proves the error in that decision,” said Mr Dunne.

“In March I stated that taxpayers will inevitably end up footing the bill; surprise, surprise that is what is going to happen.”

Federated Farmers and the Government have collaborated to completely stuff this up and it is now going to cost us,” said Mr Dunne.

UnitedFuture’s March statement regarding the Canada Geese decision can be found at http://www.unitedfuture.org.nz/dunne-concerned-with-canada-geese-decision/

ENDS

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