Hon David Carter MP
National Party Agriculture Spokesman
19 November 2006
Anderton's silence on tenure review telling
Jim Anderton's failure to say which side of the tenure review fence he is on shows that farmers cannot trust him to
advocate in their best interests, says National Agriculture spokesman David Carter.
"On Thursday I highlighted a Cabinet minute on Land Information NZ's website which shows the Crown wants to force up
rentals to force down the amount paid to high country farmers in tenure review deals.
"I also called on Jim Anderton to confirm whether, as reported in the Dominion Post, he and the Prime Minister were
speaking out against rental hikes at Cabinet meetings.
"The Agriculture Minister's failure to clarify whether they are talking out of both sides of their mouth is telling.
"Nobody should be under any illusions: Jim Anderton doesn't care what impact large rental hikes will have on high
country farmers as they effectively force leaseholders into the tenure review process.
"Jim Anderton said one thing and did another with the dog microchipping issue. Now he's doing it again."
ENDS