Gavan Herlihy

National Agriculture Spokesman

12 September 2000

Green MPs selling-out the livelihood of farmers

"The antics of Green MPs Nandor Tanczos and Sue Bradford are a slap in the face for hard working kiwi farmers whose livelihoods depend on New Zealand's ability to trade their agricultural products in the world marketplace," National's Agriculture Spokesman Gavan Herlihy said today.

The two Green MPs have been taking part in protests at the Asia Pacific Economic Summit in Melbourne, with media reports indicating the pair have today been involved in scuffles with Police.

"Involvement in valid protests is a basic right. But you have to question the mental state of adults who oppose all forms of trade," Mr Herlihy said.

"As an agricultural nation our trading relationships are the life-blood of this country. To those people working in the agricultural sector the actions of these lefty-loony MPs are tantamount to treason.

"The presence of two de facto Government MPs in a rowdy demonstration harm the image and reputation of our country, and send an undesirable message about the reliability of our Government.

"These two MPs need to grow up and enter the real world, and as parliamentarians put their energies into working for New Zealand, not against New Zealand" Gavan Herlihy said.

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