ACT Finance spokesman Rodney Hide said that Taranaki farmers had ACT MP Owen Jennings to thank for an unprecedented turnaround in government bill that was to passed under urgency that would see them losing a third of their much deserved compensation.

“Michael Cullen had all parties bar ACT signed up to his Bill to be passed under urgency this week that would at the 11th hour rob farmers of their legally established compensation.

“Owen Jennings who had kept close with Taranaki people since his highly successful bid for the seat in the by-election wasn’t having a bar of it.

“He mobilised the farmers and explained the issues to the other MPs across all parties.

“Michael Cullen to his credit saw sense and in an unprecedented action cancelled the Bill. I congratulate Michael Cullen for his open-mindedness and his listening to reason.

“It would have been a travesty of justice with huge implications to all landowners and to the economy if he had stuck with his Bill.

“The real issue now is whether he will hold his official to account who had given him such disastrous advice. Without Owen Jennings, their will would have prevailed to the cost of each and every New Zealander,” concluded Rodney Hide.

ENDS

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