Opinion
24 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 28, 2020
EDITORIAL
Ideology the order of the day
T
HE election campaign is well and truly under way after a covid-induced false start a few weeks ago. The major political parties are finally beginning to roll out their visions for the primary sector and at this stage appear to adhere to ideology. In 2017, the Labour Party campaigned on tightening regulation and in the past three years have done just that. We now have the Zero Carbon Bill and new laws governing freshwater quality and biodiversity. Industry had a say in some of that legislation but in its totality, it’ll still be a big task to implement. Labour has recently announced $50 million to kickstart the process of getting implemented farm plans nationwide. The National Party tends to try and get out of the way of business and it is vowing to review or repeal parts of the freshwater legislation and tone down greenhouse gas law as well. RMA reform, a party favourite, is also on the cards. The Greens are embracing regenerative agriculture, believing a lighter touch on the land will lead to a better story to tell and perhaps even better margins for exports. ACT believes farmers should be at liberty to govern themselves, preferring a regional carrot to a big stick. Other parties are also courting the rural vote with the New Conservatives, which rejects the emissions trading scheme and would pull NZ out of the Paris Accord, in favour of funding research and development to meet emissions targets. Rural communities are full of can-do types who like to be left alone to make their own decisions for their families and businesses. But the past three years have been anything but normal with the pandemic and its economic fallout looming large over this election. Many urban voters believe the primary sector needs a bit more of a push to get its environmental house in order but imposing compliance and cost on farm businesses right now is arguably a handbrake on the recovery. One thing all voters can agree on, perhaps, is that the drawn out campaign seems interminably long and October 17 can’t come fast enough.
Bryan Gibson
LETTERS
Rural sector supplies life’s essentials TONY Orman (Farmers Weekly, July 13) raises valid questions which politicians are reluctant to answer, or even acknowledge. I would, however, add two further questions of great relevance to all New Zealanders, including the rural sector which still supplies most of life’s essentials. As a sidebar, it is hightime the absurd concept of “sustainable cities” was nailed once and for all.“Sustainable?” What nonsense. Do the cities provide NZ’s food? Do they supply the raw materials for industry? Anyway, as a health activist, particularly in the rural areas from 1991 until I moved to Australia in 2009, I witnessed the decimation of the most cost-efficient segment of the NZ public health system – the
small rural hospitals. During the early 1990s rural Otago functioned on budgets as low as $400,000 a year. I know because I had copies of their budgets leaked to me. Even allowing for inflation they were extraordinary bargains. Many of them provided services ranging from maternity to hospice care, while also providing local employment. With many farmers having the good sense to marry qualified nurses, professional expertise was in good supply. They also enjoyed community support and provided a focal point for what used to be described as “good works” – before the politicians and bureaucrats lost sight of how valuable such things can be. So why did the powers-that-
be destroy so much that was effective – and economical? Nothing but political dogma. The second question I raise is, why oh why do successive governments source loans for public works from the commercial banking sector at huge interest rates when, as was done under the first Labour government, the Reserve Bank could provide the same funding at mere loan management costs instead of usurious interest rates that penalise every New Zealander and further contribute to the obscene profits of the banking barons? Some years ago I exchanged emails with Bill English (finance minister) and Tony Ryall (health minister) beginning with the question, “Why don’t you finance hospitals and DHB loans
through the Reserve Bank?”. Their answer, “It’s not our policy”. Naturally I asked, “Why isn’t it your policy?”. Their response was, “This correspondence is closed”. National MPs couldn’t say why they don’t use the Reserve Bank, thereby saving NZ endless billions of dollars. Neither can Labour. David Tranter Railton, Tasmania
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