28 February 2013

A-G report shows no plan for foot and mouth

The Auditor-General’s report shows that the Government has not been treating biosecurity seriously enough and has been trying to do it on the cheap, the Green Party said today.

The Auditor-General today released a report looking at the Ministry for Primary Industries’ preparation for and response to a biosecurity incursion like foot and mouth disease. A MAF estimate of the cost to New Zealand of a foot and mouth outbreak is around $10 billion and 20,000 jobs over two years.

“This report highlights the similarities between our lack of preparedness for a foot and mouth outbreak with that of the UK immediately prior to their disastrous experience with it,” Green Party primary industries spokesperson Steffan Browning said.

Of 27 work streams under the surveillance strategy meant to be completed by the second quarter of 2012 only two had finished their work.

“The report shows that the Government has over-promised and under-delivered, and left our agricultural sector vulnerable,” said Mr Browning.

“The Government needs to learn from this report and protect our primary sector.

“Our clean green brand is worth billions to the New Zealand economy - we need to invest in protecting it.”

Reference:
Auditor-General’s report, Ministry for Primary Industries: Preparing for and responding to biosecurity incursions: http://www.oag.govt.nz/2013/biosecurity

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage