INDEPENDENT NEWS

Anderton u-turn on meat mega-merger rank hypocrisy

Published: Thu 15 May 2008 01:06 PM
David Carter MP
National Party Agriculture Spokesman
15 May 2008
Anderton’s u-turn on meat mega-merger rank hypocrisy
Jim Anderton’s new-found status as promoter of a mega-merger for the meat industry reeks of breathtaking hypocrisy, says National’s Agriculture spokesman, David Carter.
Mr Carter is responding to the Agriculture Minister’s sudden embrace of the concept after talking it down when it was first mooted in February this year.
“Back then, Jim Anderton sneered that any support at central government level would be perceived as a subsidy by overseas trading partners, and he criticised National for supporting the idea.
“Today, he has resorted to his normal habit of alienating the industry by accusing meat companies of ‘fiddling while Rome burns’.
“Mr Anderton is now, disingenuously, urging meat companies to revive failed talks for a mega-merger. He is even acknowledging that this must be done with some urgency.
“This is the man who also told Parliament that National’s enthusiasm over the idea was nothing but ‘pork barrel politics’.
“Jim Anderton’s road to Damascus conversion is cynical politicking of the worst kind. The industry won’t forget it.”
ENDS

Next in New Zealand politics

Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
By: New Zealand Government
Parliamentary Network Breached By The PRC
By: New Zealand Government
GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan
By: New Zealand Government
Tax Cuts Now Even More Irresponsible
By: New Zealand Labour Party
New Zealand Provides Further Humanitarian Support To Gaza And The West Bank
By: New Zealand Government
High Court Judge Appointed
By: New Zealand Government
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media