It appeared that ENZA has been unable to obtain grower support for a levy to recover past losses, Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton said today.

"It is clear that at this point, there is not a consensus in the industry for this."

The Government said two weeks ago that it would only consider an ENZA proposal for a compulsory levy to deal with past losses if ENZA could demonstrate a majority of industry participants supported that proposal, that it was fair to minority players, and was in the public interest.

Mr Sutton said it was now obvious that there was widespread doubt and scepticism amongst growers that the foreign exchange losses, at least in part, were appropriately allocated to them.

"Having spoken to many growers, it is clear that few accept that the forex losses are appropriately attributed to them, at least in their entirity."

Mr Sutton said he was expecting legal advice on the issue soon, and he was aware that other people were also seeking legal advice.

"Some may resort to the courts to protect their interests as they perceive them.

"I don't want to pre-judge the issue, but it is only fair to point out that, at this stage, that it does not look as if a levy on all growers to recover past losses is a runner."

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>