David Carter MP
National Party Agriculture Spokesman

4 November 2008

National welcomes Fed Farmers Manifesto

National’s Agriculture spokesman, David Carter, has welcomed the release today of the Federated Farmers 2008 General Election Manifesto.

“The policies and principles laid out in the manifesto largely reflect those in National’s 2008 agriculture and biosecurity policies,” says Mr Carter.

“We couldn’t agree more that agriculture is the backbone of the New Zealand economy.

“In areas such as RMA reform, tenure review, employment relations, and slashing red tape our approaches are highly complementary.

“The manifesto also raises a number of interesting ideas in areas such as education and rural/urban relations which, if National leads the next Government, we will be looking at closely.

“The release of this document reinforces the need for a change of government if pro-agriculture policies are to be achieved.

“”Labour and Jim Anderton have had nine long years to deliver the policies that our primary sector so badly needs and they’ve failed dismally.

“Labour’s contempt for agriculture is clearly indicated by the fact that just days out from a general election they still haven’t released an agriculture policy.

“National realises the absolute importance of agriculture to New Zealand, and we will work with Federated Farmers and other interest groups to implement the policies that will drive the sector forward.”

ENDS

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