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Leader's LetterSeptember 2003
Rural AffairsLivestock farmers in New Zealand have a right to feel aggrieved over the flatulence tax issue. Farmers have a right to expect that their own people would support them over and above those of other countries. They would never have dreamed that their own Government would impose a stupid tax upon them that did not apply to their international competitors. This has all come about because the Government has seen fit to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. That protocol has a set of emission targets that have to be met or a penalty paid. The penalty takes the form of us buying credits from an international carbon trading regime which has not yet been set up. If you think this all sounds a bit theoretical you are absolutely right. Quite sensibly Australia and America have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol. Because New Zealand is basically a clean country and emits only 0.2 to 0.5% of the world’s ozone depleting gases, our emissions do not emanate from belching chimneys or even fossil burning vehicles. Just on 50% of our emissions are natural gas or methane emitted from intensively farmed ruminant animals. This politically correct Government has decided that research needs to be done to reduce the burps of cows and sheep, hence the levy or tax to fund the $8.4 million for research. Never mind the fact that it won’t do a darn thing to reduce global warming and never mind the fact that there is a question around whether this is indeed the problem in any case. Needless to say New Zealand First is opposed to this tax being imposed on farmers and we will repeal it as soon as we have the power to do so. As our Rural Affairs Spokesperson I have put our point of view to the farming community at various rallies organised by Federated Farmers as have other caucus members. Doug Woolerton MP
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