 |
Todd Talks |
Last week I was appointed as Acting Opposition Spokesperson for Agriculture, Food Safety and Biosecurity. I've been involved in primary industries all my life, growing up in our Te Puna orchard and working in horticulture and dairy before becoming MP for Bay of Plenty in 2014.
I have enjoyed the portfolios of Primary Industries, Forestry and Oceans and Fisheries. As Climate Change spokesperson, I spent months in tough cross-party negotiations with the bi-partisan Zero Carbon Act the right outcome for New Zealand.
But the Government's pricing emissions response last week is not the right outcome. For three years, primary sector representatives have worked to devise a new consensus system with recommendations sent to the Government in May. But last week, when the Government announced its proposals, key points the partnership had suggested were missing; up to 20 per cent of the capacity of sheep and beef farming could be lost by 2030 – while seeing emissions increase offshore as production and jobs move overseas. This is as unacceptable to National as it is to farmers.
Farmers should be able to count the carbon sequestration and be able to work in collectives. The price proposed is too high; high ETS pricing will drive investment into forestry.
We should encourage technology trials that could reduce emissions.
The Government must listen to the anger and frustration in our rural communities. It needs to return to the negotiating table and find a solution farmers can support. A solution that works for them, works for our economy and is the right thing for our environment.
