Minister Ends Charade

Wednesday 13 Nov 2002 Gerry Eckhoff Press Releases -- Rural

Agricultural Minister Jim Sutton has abandoned all pretence of being the Labour Government's agricultural advocate, ACT New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff said today.

"The Climate Change Bill gave Mr Sutton more than ample opportunity to speak on the effects of this legislation on the rural committees, yet he never once stood in The House to advocate or explain his position.

"Any vestige of credibility that the Minister may have had as a rural person has evaporated, as this bill gives unparalleled powers of entry, search and seizure - not to mention the absolute theft of property rights," Mr Eckhoff said.

"As a farmer who has plenty of young trees, I gave an assurance that I would sell my carbon credits on a secondary market should the opportunity ever arise. Farmers should exercise their rights of passive resistance when the compliance police come calling.

"The Greens also maintained a pathetic silence over the bill's powers of entry - yet complained most bitterly that the rights of Muslim immigrants were being trampled on," Mr Eckhoff said.

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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