Tuesday, 15 August 2017 12:55

Show us the numbers, Labour

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Federated Farmers water spokesman Chris Allen.

Federated Farmers water spokesman Chris Allen says with the absence of detail on Labour’s new water tax policy, voters will be sailing blind into the election.

Allen says while the pledge to consult with those affected if Labour is part of the new government is appreciated, farmers need information before the election.

“Surely at least they have a starting figure in mind, to open negotiations with water users and to give voters a clue on the quantum of tax they envisage.

“Ten cents a litre has been suggested for exporters of bottled water, which has been contested as a thousand times exaggerated for the royalty that might apply to large commercial users. So what is the figure?” Allen says.

Federated Farmers is strongly opposed to a water royalty when it would essentially be an extra tax on electricity, food and exports.

“If the problem is with bottled water, then let’s just fix that problem.”

Tagged under

More like this

Front up about the mistakes — Hoggard

As well as laying out its new strategy, Fonterra should make clearer how it got into this trouble, says Federated Farmers national vice-president and dairy farmer Andrew Hoggard.

What ethics?

Your old mate just about choked on his bone when he read a media release from the multinational, tax dodging, perennially anti farming organisation Greenpeace calling on Feds to stop “kicking farmers”.

Winter grazing: moving away from muddy cows

DairyNZ Director Ben Allomes says farmers need to change with the times and adopt practices that are good for their animals and the environment.

Gun register likely to misfire – Feds

Misgivings about the practicality and cost of a firearms register are likely to dominate feedback from rural people on the second round of proposed Arms Act amendments, says Federated Farmers.

Impractical

Not content with slapping extra costs on the country’s farmers in the form of an ETS tax, impossible targets to cut methane and impending charges to improve water quality, the Government now wants more.