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Labour takes aim at agriculture industry

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Sat, 11 Jun 2011 11:12a.m.

Parker says "agriculture is important, but it’s not the be all and end all” (NZPA)

Parker says "agriculture is important, but it’s not the be all and end all” (NZPA)

Labour says the government needs to forget about making life easy for farmers, stating that there are better ways to get the economy back up and running.

Farmers are excluded from the Emissions Trading Scheme, and Prime Minister John Key says the planned introduction date of 2015 may be pushed out even further.

Labour wants to bring agriculture into the ETS in 2013 to fund a rehash of its research and development tax credit.

Labour's Associate Finance Spokesperson David Parker says relying on farmers isn't a wise move.

“There’s no way New Zealand can catch up with the fortunes of other countries just by more farming,” says Parker.

He said New Zealand needs to widen its scope.

“We actually need more jobs and more exports in non-agricultural sectors. Agriculture is important, but it’s not the be all and end all”.

He says Labour received hate mail from farmers following its ETS announcement last month.

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Comments

13 Jun 2011 11:14a.m.

David wrote:

I wish folks would get the basic facts right. Farmers are already in the ETS, just like the rest of us. This is because the ETS covers carbon dioxide emissions from fuel and electricity generation. The issue now is the inclusion of specifically agricultural gases - nitrous oxide from animal excreta and fertilizers, and methane from animals.

11 Jun 2011 10:03p.m.

Kim wrote:

I'm a little confused how they got that headline? I dont see anything in what parker said that could be confused for an attack? (or take aim as TV3 put it) All he is saying is "Putting all your eggs in one basket is never a good move" But look at the inflammatory wording used..."Labour says the government needs to forget about making life easy for farmers," ....I notice this isn't quoting anyone. Very likely to be just this reporters take on it. Besides, This is weeks old news anyway. Lets face it people..there is a limit to how many jobs that sector can create. They have a well known preference for automation over employment and seasonal work/parttime over full time. The more money they make, the flasher the machines they buy and the less people they need to run the farm.

11 Jun 2011 08:09p.m.

karl Marx wrote:

... how dumb can you get, indeed, Kelvyn. By privileging primary industry as Key and his mates are, the vast majority of New Zealanders will continue down the slippery slope to second class citizens in their own country. an diverse, value add economy, not more government privileging of their own cronie mates at the sametime as they impoverish the rest of us.

Interesting how National is all about one law when it comes to the poor, but quite something else when it comes to the interests of their friends.

11 Jun 2011 04:56p.m.

JS wrote:

What absolute tossers. Supporting NZ agriculture is a no brainer.

11 Jun 2011 03:24p.m.

kelvyn wrote:

How dumb can you get? If it wasn't for primary industry NZ would slip right out of 1st world status. Attack a very large part of the electorate and what do you get? Another term in opposition. I really have lost patience with Labour. Goff has to go, we need something more positive and progressive than this type of headline.