Damien
O’Connor

Primary Industries Spokesperson
30 May 2014 MEDIA STATEMENT

Botulism report delay a cynical ploy

The delay of the final report into Fonterra’s botulism contamination scare until after the election is a cynical ploy that will further damage New Zealand’s reputation, Labour’s Primary Industries spokesperson Damien O’Connor says.

“The longer this drags on, the more our brand in the international market place is tarnished.

“The reputation of New Zealand is more important than the reputation of Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

“Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye clearly fear for their jobs and have kicked this for touch.

“The Government’s attempt to remain free from responsibility by delaying the final report by the botulism inquiry won’t be lost on farmers or the wider export sector.

“Much of the fault in this whole botch-up lies with MPI and AgResearch.

“The Ministry’s testing regime for food safety failed, leaving Fonterra, the New Zealand dairy industry and infant milk consumers here and around the world as the victims.

“They deserve better than this,” Damien O’Connor says.

ENDS

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