MEDIA RELEASE
CORPORATE WELFARE: $15 MILLION GIFTED TO MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY
30 JANUARY 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Taxpayer’s Union is slamming new government funding of the sheep and beef sector announced yesterday by Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce. The funding is set to cost taxpayers $15 million over 5 years with the money paying for sheep and beef genetics research.

“The only winners are the sheep and beef farmers who will ultimately profit,” says Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union. “Like most corporate welfare, it’s everyday taxpayers who will be left out of pocket.”

“As Mr Joyce points out, New Zealand already leads the world in pastoral animal and plant genetics. Why is the Government pouring millions into an existing multi-billion dollar export industry? Expecting increases in farmers' profits is not justification."

"This funding is for good headlines, not good economics. What other industries have their normal research and development costs borne by the taxpayer?” concludes Mr Williams.

Mr Joyce’s announcement is available at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/15m-investment-sheep-and-beef-genetics.
ENDS

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