Source: Federated Farmers
Federated Farmers is backing additions to ACT’s plan to ‘Make Farming Fun Again’, with a raft of new policies released today as competition heats up for the rural vote.
“There’s really clear alignment between ACT’s announcement today and our own policy priorities this election,” says Federated Farmers president Colin Hurst.
“It’s great to see such strong support for new permitted activity standards, guaranteeing flexible land use and protecting farmers’ private property rights.
“If New Zealand wants a growing economy, more jobs and higher wages, then this is the recipe for success: cutting red tape and unnecessary costs.”
Hurst says Federated Farmers has a clear vision to double farm productivity, cut costs and improve the environment – and that vision is clearly shared by the ACT Party.
“We’re never going to be able to tax or regulate our way to a higher standard of living as a country, but with the right settings, we might just be able to farm our way there.
“Farming has always been the key to New Zealand’s economic success, and I don’t see that changing any time soon. We produce food and fibre, and we sell it to the world.
“If we want a better standard of living, we need more farming in New Zealand – not less of it. That’s how we pay for things we need like schools, hospitals, police and roads.”
Hurst says many of ACT’s policies will build on the Government’s work reforming the resource management system while addressing farmers’ concerns.
Federated Farmers conservation spokesperson Richard Dawkins is also backing ACT’s policy to eradicate wilding pines and control pests across public and private land.
“We’re particularly pleased to see ACT making a firm commitment for long-term funding to help eradicate wilding pines from our unique natural landscapes,” Dawkins says.
“This has been a strong advocacy focus for Federated Farmers over the last year, with the Government announcing $110 million to help urgently address the issue.
“Unfortunately, that funding was only for a four-year work programme – but wilding pines are a much longer-term challenge that requires certainty of funding.”
Federated Farmers is also welcoming somewhat of a ‘course correction’ in ACT’s pest control policy after firm criticism from farmers in recent months.
“We were highly critical of the ACT Party policy released in July, which would have given too much power to the Game Animal Council.
“We’re pleased to see ACT has now made a commitment that DOC will be directed to coordinate pest control across public and private land, reducing the burden on individual farmers.
“We firmly believe DOC and MPI are best placed to coordinate pest control, and we look forward to continuing to work with them and the new government on pest management in the new year.”