2. Dr ASHRAF CHOUDHARY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Agriculture
What reports has he received on reaction to the Government’s Fast Forward programme announced yesterday?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) Link to this
Business New Zealand said “The Government and partnership industries involved are to be congratulated for this bold move.” DairyNZ’s chairman, former National MP John Luxton, said it represented a significant commitment to maintaining the profitability, competitiveness, and sustainability of New Zealand’s pastoral and food industries. The investment has also been welcomed by Zespri, Fonterra, the Meat Industry Association, Meat and Wool New Zealand, PGG Wrightson, Horticulture New Zealand, and Crop and Food Research, amongst others.
Dr Ashraf Choudhary Link to this
What calls has the Minister seen for further investment in agriculture research and development?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I have seen a report concerning a National Party policy paper that called to “boost research and development, especially in agriculture.” I have also seen a call to scrap the Fast Forward fund, which came from the leader of the National Party, Mr John Key.
Hon David CarterCan the Minister confirm that AgResearch is New Zealand’s largest agricultural research centre and that it received more money under National in 1999 than it currently receives under Labour in 2007-08, and is this not just another case of rhetoric around this issue because it is driven by desperation around the polls?
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. You would have heard a complaint by a National Party member on that side with regard to the phrasing of questions. The money that was given to AgResearch in 1999 was in the 1998 Budget. It was not a National Party measure, but a New Zealand First measure. I ask the member to get his facts right.
Madam SPEAKERHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I can confirm that for many years Governments have tended to switch the priorities in research and development funding out of the agriculture area. What is now clear is that we need a vast boost in funding into agriculture research, not least for sustainability reasons given the pressures that agriculture faces. How can National Party members get up and say that this is a bad thing and then call for increased funding for agriculture research and development? How can National members get up and say that we should have public-private partnerships and then oppose the biggest public-private partnership in research ever announced in New Zealand?
Dr Ashraf Choudhary Link to this
Has the Minister seen any further reports in support or in opposition to further investment in agricultural research and development?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I have seen continued reports of growing support for these moves. I have also seen various reports that the Leader of the Opposition is now avoiding answering questions on this issue, and refusing to admit the obvious—that he got it wrong. Capital will be used, as well as interest; the so-called great financial trader cannot work out the difference between capital and interest.
Gordon CopelandHas the Minister thought of suggesting to the Minister of Forestry—in fact, himself wearing a different cap—that thought be given to the creation of a research fund, based on the Fast Forward model, for the forestry sector, given the fact that we continue to export thousands of tonnes of unprocessed logs and in spite of talking for more than 20 years now about the importance of processing in this country, and thereby moving those exports up the value-added chain?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
That is not under survey at the present time, but it is true to say that part of the reason we export so many of our logs in an unprocessed form is that we face very high tariff barriers for processed wood products in a number of key markets. It is therefore crucial to negotiate trade deals that will deal with that kind of issue.
Sue MoroneyHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Yes, indeed. The Opposition, I understand, announced that it would fund increased investment in research and development in agriculture by simply selling off Landcorp. Of course, again, that is interesting, because in selling off a State asset the only thing that makes sense is to devote that result to paying off debt—as I am sure Mr English appreciates, and as he himself has said on a number of occasions.
How many Landcorp farms have been sold under Labour in the last 9 long years; and why is it OK for Labour to sell such Landcorp farms and not OK for National to do so?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The problem for the member is that National at one point was saying that it would sell Landcorp. What Landcorp has been doing is selling and buying—[ Interruption]
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Landcorp has been selling and buying in order to consolidate its resources in the land area.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I quite specifically asked the Minister how many Landcorp farms had been sold under Labour, over the last 9 long years.
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
It may seem like 9 long years to the member; it is actually less than 8½.
Well, the Minister, I thought, originally addressed the question. I asked him to further elucidate. He did so.
Hon Damien O’Connor Link to this
I seek leave to table an article from New Zealand Farmers’ Weekly, dated 10 March, which quotes Mr Carter, when Minister of Agriculture stating: “I would sell Landcorp …”.