David Carter National Agriculture Spokesman

17 October 2003

Fight not over for farmers

The Government's backdown on the flatulence tax is a victory for farmers, but the battle against rising rural costs isn't over, says National Agriculture Spokesman David Carter.

"The dumb flatulence tax was just one swipe this Government was taking at farmers - but there are many more," he says.

"Farmers are already worried that Labour's plan to free up private land for public access will put private property rights at risk.

"This is nothing but heavy-handed political interference because farmers have been providing controlled, safe access over their land for the last hundred years. Labour's plan will strip control from farmers, making them vulnerable to vandalism, theft, livestock damage and OSH fines," says Mr Carter.

"This is not all - there is also a raft of new costs in the pipeline which will see increases in petrol, diesel, electricity, gas and coal prices to pay for Kyoto.

"All this is coming on top of Labour's ever-increasing taxes, ACC levies, OSH fines, and RMA red tape that are strangling the rural sector.

"Strong political opposition and angry farmers forced the Government into a corner on the flatulence tax. But more pressure's needed to stop the Government in its tracks on anti-farming policies," says Mr Carter.

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