Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Govt pulls plug on greenhouse gas research

David Carter National Agriculture Spokesman

12 September 2003

Govt pulls plug on greenhouse gas research

National's Agriculture spokesman David Carter is slamming a Government decision to cut funding for a greenhouse gas emissions research project at Lincoln University.

"It makes no sense.

'We've got the Government forcing farmers to stump up for greenhouse gas research through the absurd 'flatulence tax', yet on the other hand it's pulling the plug on research," says Mr Carter.

He is commenting on reports that a million-dollar research project at Lincoln has not only had its application for new funding turned down, but it has also had its existing government funding stopped.

"This is despite the private sector already doing its bit to substantially subsidise the project," says Mr Carter.

"This research project had huge potential for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and increasing agricultural efficiency. It's tipped to cut nitrate leaching and slash nitrous oxide emissions by as much as 80%.

"Farmers know only too well the Government's determination to levy for research into greenhouse gas emissions - they call it a 'fart tax'.

"But what they won't understand is why the Government sees fit to axe already-established, essential research into the problem. It makes no sense, "says Mr Carter.

"Agriculture is the engine room of our economy. And it is research, like the Lincoln University project, that will fuel its future.

"It's a real slap in the face for agriculture that the Government can find $34 million for an America's Cup challenge, but can't find research funding for an industry that earns 67% of our total exports," says Mr Carter.

Ends

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

Gordon Campbell: On The Government’s Smokefree Laws Debacle

The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable view is that the government was being deliberately misleading. Are we to think Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is a fool or a liar? It seems rather early on in his term of office to be facing that unpleasant choice... More


 
 
Public Housing Futures: Christmas Comes Early For Landlords

New CTU analysis of the National & ACT coalition agreement has shown the cost of returning interest deductibility to landlords is an extra $900M on top of National’s original proposal. This is because it is going to be implemented earlier and faster, including retrospective rebates from April 2023. More


Green Party: Petition To Save Oil & Gas Ban

“The new Government’s plan to expand oil and gas exploration is as dangerous as it is unscientific. Whatever you think about the new government, there is simply no mandate to trash the climate. We need to come together to stop them,” says James Shaw. More

PSA: MFAT Must Reverse Decision To Remove Te Reo

MFAT's decision to remove te reo from correspondence before new Ministers are sworn in risks undermining the important progress the public sector has made in honouring te Tiriti. "We are very disappointed in what is a backward decision - it simply seems to be a Ministry bowing to the racist rhetoric we heard on the election campaign trail," says Marcia Puru. More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.