MAUREEN PUGH
Forgive me for asking such a bold question, but as an MP I come into contact with a huge diversity of people. Take the recent Agfest as an example: an incredibly successful event which spread wonderful rural-based vibes all over Greymouth’s Aerodrome for two days.
But people were angry. They were frustrated beyond any description I could write here. Folk from both town and country told me of the frustration they feel about how primary producers are being treated these days and how rules and regulations plus rapidly-rising costs have conspired to make farming, cropping and all sorts of rural contracting, very hard to make money in.
Then there were the two rural issues meeting we held: Tapawera and Murchison where the Government’s farm emissions proposal was top of the discussion list. This scheme would see farmers will pay for emissions from 2025, which could mean a 20 per cent reduction in sheep and beef farming.
Not only would that decimate rural communities, but it would price farming out of New Zealand so that jobs and production shift offshore to countries that produce more emissions. New Zealand’s sacrifice would be for nothing.
The reaction from frontline people at those meetings was swift and clear: the effect on rural communities will be devastating if people are forced to leave the districts they once worked in. Schools, freezing works medical facilities would be top of the casualty list.
The more recent Groundswell tractor protests in the four main centres show the depth of feeling about the far-reaching consequences of Labour’s proposal.
Let me be clear: National is absolutely committed to bringing down emissions and we know that lowering agricultural emissions needs to be part of the solution. But technology, not bankruptcy, is the way to lower agricultural emissions.
My hope is that the feedback is listened to and a more pragmatic direction to emissions reduction and offsetting is found. I find it very upsetting that this Government simply don’t realise how much a proposal like this shakes the confidence of the sector, at a time when we need investment and forward-thinking.
This is all about respect for the primary industries sector. So, how long will it take for the Government to realise the enormous debt that we all owe to our primary producers?
