Dairy Farmers Should Consider GlobalCo Alternative

Tuesday 5th Jun 2001 Penny Webster Media Release -- Governance & Constitution

Dairy farmers should seriously examine the alternative to GlobalCo launched today by farmers Mark Masters and Malcolm Bailey, said ACT MP and dairy farmer Penny Webster.

“Many farmers have been very uneasy about the GlobalCo plan but feared that there was no alternative. Now Farmers For A Better Dairy Deal have come up with one.

“It is not acceptable for GlobalCo Chairman John Roadley to say that this new proposal has come too late or is not workable. His comments just demonstrate the way industry leaders have been manipulating farmers’ thinking for years. Farmers who have spoken out have been sidelined or given labels to try to discredit them.

“ACT has been saying from the outset that farmers have not had the opportunity to debate the matter properly because the information has not been out there. This is too important an issue. Our dairy farmers livelihoods are at stake. The whole industry is at stake.

“In a letter to the Minister I have asked whether he thinks the proposed GlobalCo constitution is in breach of the deal he did for legislation to get the proposal past the Commerce Commission.

“I understand the constitution’s inconsistent with the Minister’s regulatory package. If so farmers may vote, and then have their vote superseded when the Government overrides the constitution by regulation.

“Everybody must have the opportunity to view this new two-company proposal and discuss it. I call on industry directors and leaders to make sure this new plan gets out to farmers and is widely and truthfully debated alongside the GlobalCo one Farmers deserve to be able to see it.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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