“The very best thing that the Minister of Agriculture can do for rural New Zealanders is to improve the business conditions they face, by reducing compliance costs, taxes and regulation, rather than adding another portfolio and more red tape,” said ACT Rural Affairs spokesman Owen Jennings.
Mr Jennings was commenting on the release of a Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) report; The Influence of Social Factors on the Future Performance of the Primary Production Sectors.
“The report very rightly points out that profitability is the over-riding issue in rural New Zealand, yet this Government refuses to face the reality that they are a major contributer to the high costs rural dwellers face.
“If Mr Sutton is serious about dealing with the problem he will tackle rising ACC costs, rising employment costs, rising interest rates, rising fuel prices and the tragic costs arising from the Resource Management Act, to name a few,” said Owen Jennings.
ENDS