Farmers Fall Victim to Grubby Politics

Friday 19 Oct 2001 Owen Jennings Press Releases -- Rural

Farmers have everything to fear from the short-sighted, grubby politics being played out by the Labour-Alliance coalition and the Greens over Genetic Engineering trials, ACT Agriculture Spokesman MP Owen Jennings said today.

"Brainless politicking could kill the exciting biotechnology future for farming. Jim Anderton is gambling on a high-risk strategy, in order to resurrect his failed party.

"Maori interests who have been ignored to a large extent by Labour have seen a chance to reassert their influence, again, possibly at the expense of farmers.

"The Greens and the Alliance demanded a Royal Commission. They got a Commission and a very fair, robust process carried out expertly by a professional team. Having received a scientifically-based outcome they don't want, they are intent on manipulating the political system based on ideological nonsense.

"Good science and rational decision-making must take precedence over grubby politics," Mr Jennings said.

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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