19 June 2013

Dairy industry faces oil and gas waste costs and risks

The Green Party congratulates Fonterra on its decision to not accept milk from cows grazed on any new land farms – areas where oil and gas waste is spread and covered, the Green Party said today.

Fonterra has released information to Radio New Zealand detailing costs of $80,000 a year to test milk from a few farms which have been used as sites for drilling waste from the oil and gas industry and it announced a policy not to collect milk from any new land farms.

“It is great that Fonterra have been open about the cost they face due to the oil and gas industry,” said Green Party energy spokesperson Gareth Hughes.

“We welcome Fonterra’s commitment not to take milk from any additional farms where oil and gas industry waste has been spread.

“Fonterra’s response shows the Green Party was raising valid questions about Fonterra collecting milk from cows grazing on land farms.

“We are pleased to be playing a part in protecting the dairy industry,” said Mr Hughes.

“We urge Fonterra to reconsider accepting milk from the land farms it currently deals with. It’s not worth the risk to their brand and means it faces on-going testing costs.

“Fonterra’s position highlights problems with disposing of waste from the oil and gas industry. National is supporting an expanded drilling programme with no plan to deal with greater quantities of waste.

“This shows the conflict between the National Government’s favoured industry and New Zealand’s clean green brand.

“The Government’s role as a regulator has been compromised by its advocacy for the oil industry.

“Our economy depends on our clean green brand, we need to make it real,” Mr Hughes said.

Authorised by Gareth Hughes MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

ENDS 

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