27 March 2002

"Meat New Zealand's call for a combined approach by agricultural industries against the Government's plans to ratify the Kyoto Protocol reveals just how out of touch Helen Clark and Jim Sutton are with the productive sector on the issue," says National's Agriculture spokesman Gavan Herlihy.

Mr Herlihy says Meat Board chairman Jeff Grant has appealed for the agriculture sector to band together and lobby the Government not to ratify the protocol until the costs and benefits are more clearly defined.

"This is exactly the same message that National has been telling the Government for some time.

"However, it continues to ignore numerous business and primary sector concerns about the sense of New Zealand ratifying Kyoto ahead of competing trading nations - particularly Australia and the US.

"Without providing any data or facts on what it might cost the country, Helen Clark is still determined to head off to South Africa in September and sign New Zealand up to this binding international agreement.

"She is deliberately putting the country's future economic well-being at risk just to further her standing with her fellow left-leaning, 'progressive' socialist' counterparts around the world."

Meanwhile, Gavan Herlihy says Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton's arrogant dismissal of the agriculture sectors' genuine concerns is yet another example of his Government's attitude.

"It is clear Jim Sutton and the Labour/Alliance Government put greater priority on obtaining an expensive photo opportunity for Helen Clark than what their actions will do to New Zealand's productive sector.

"Jeff Grant's call for a combined effort by the farming sector over its opposition to Kyoto ratification is a clear message to Government from the sector and one that Jim Sutton can't keep running from," Mr Herlihy concluded.

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