Farmers can't trust Labour on flatulence tax
The National Party is warning farmers against complacency in the war against the Labour Government's flatulence tax.
"The farming sector must not get distracted by any suggestions that the Government is poised to back down on their
animal emissions tax," says National Party Agriculture spokesman David Carter.
"I predicted six weeks ago that the Government would retreat on this issue, because it has much bigger tax shocks in
store for farmers.
"It's pretty clear from the Government's attack on farmers as 'whingers' that it has no intention of backing away from
its ideological agenda, even though it might try to bury the storm of protest over the flatulence tax.
"National Party MPs will join Federated Farmers on Thursday with its march on Parliament, the emissions tax, is just
part of a much bigger agenda that sees the rural community as a convenient cash cow.
"The 'flatulence tax' was to be a Trojan horse for the Government as it attempted to pass the buck on its premature
decision to sign the Kyoto protocol.
"Other New Zealand industries will follow.
"It was a decision that made us a laughing stock with our international competitors and now the Government is looking
for ways to repackage the unpopular 'flatulence tax'.
"It'll dress the tax up in the same way it has the 18 stealth taxes introduced over the past three years, but the
farming community will still be expected to pay, " warns Mr Carter.
"Farmers need to make it clear this week they will not accept this absurd politically correct tax, and the industry
should restate its position that it won't collect the money.
"The Government must come clean with its Kyoto agenda and timetable, so both the agricultural sector and the business
community can see what the future holds and start planning with some certainty," Mr Carter says.