Minister Ends Charade
Wednesday 13 Nov 2002 Gerry Eckhoff Press Releases -- Rural
Agricultural Minister Jim Sutton has abandoned all pretence of being the Labour Government's agricultural advocate, ACT
New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff said today.
"The Climate Change Bill gave Mr Sutton more than ample opportunity to speak on the effects of this legislation on the
rural committees, yet he never once stood in The House to advocate or explain his position.
"Any vestige of credibility that the Minister may have had as a rural person has evaporated, as this bill gives
unparalleled powers of entry, search and seizure - not to mention the absolute theft of property rights," Mr Eckhoff
said.
"As a farmer who has plenty of young trees, I gave an assurance that I would sell my carbon credits on a secondary
market should the opportunity ever arise. Farmers should exercise their rights of passive resistance when the compliance
police come calling.
"The Greens also maintained a pathetic silence over the bill's powers of entry - yet complained most bitterly that the
rights of Muslim immigrants were being trampled on," Mr Eckhoff said.
For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at
act@parliament.govt.nz.