Press Release
12 September 2014
Immediate Release
Don Nicolson ACT Primary Industry spokesperson
ACT says Feds boss right to be wary of shadow party ambition
“Dr William Rolleston, Federated Farmers boss is right to caution the primary industry of his concern about downright
awful permutations over Ministerial roles should the 'left' cabal seize power afterSeptember 20th ,” Don Nicolson ACT
primary industry spokesperson says
"Because Labour leader David Cunliffe has ruled out a finance role for Green co leader Russel Norman in any coalition he
leads, Rolleston has raised an alternative prospect of Norman being a Minister of Science and Innovation or the Minister
for Primary Industry (MPI) should Cunliffe decide to leave Damien O’Connor as the bridesmaid once again. Neither is an
attractive prospect.
"As a promoter of the super Ministry MPI when I was president of Federated Farmers I too understand Dr Rolleston’s worry
of any political meddling with what is really the Ministry of Exports – all 73% of the nation’s total - if the light
fingers of the intervening left get to pull the levers of power. The Left’s suite of at least five new taxes are just
their latest attack on the effort of producers and on the environment where everything we enjoy has its genesis. That
they continually abuse hard working producers with their discriminatory policies is so eastern bloc, not New Zealand.
"That’s why primary industry voters who may have been dithering about their voting preference must exercise their vote
tactically. Biased as I might be, ACT offers the best buy in the last days of the election campaign; that is at current
polling we need only 5,000 votes to get Jamie Whyte into Parliament and 16,000 party votes for each MP after that -
versus an average of one National party list MP per 63,000 votes. Also compare Jamie Whyte to the last placed National
Party MP last election - Aaron Gilmore - get the best representation not the dregs.
“With the polls narrowing as they always do and with the centre block launching new policy like a booze tax on the hoof,
it’s very clear that to have a strong, smart and progressive John Key led government, ACT is not only the best buy per
vote, but the best to protect a strong primary industry and by proxy, a strong nation,” Don Nicolson concludes
ENDS