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National would revoke several regulations introduced by the current government on agriculture if elected, including the possible introduction of agriculture into the Emissions Trading Scheme in 2022.
It has also confirmed its intention to introduce an expedited primary sector visa for skills shortages, a policy proposed by former leader Simon Bridges, and is willing to allow temporary workers to return to the country.
The party said the changes would restore “confidence and pride” in the sector.
“Farmers have enough on their plate with the weather, interest rates and international markets, they shouldn’t have to deal with a government that doesn’t understand their sector and restricts their growth,” said leader Judith Collins.
ALDEN WILLIAMS / Stuff
National leader Judith Collins said the government “did not understand” the rural sector.
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“When we form the next government, our commitment is to ensure that our agricultural policy is focused on allowing farmers the opportunity to cultivate their way for better results, rather than being regulated into oblivion.”
Collins and agriculture spokesman David Bennett promised earlier in the campaign that government regulations on water quality would “go away at lunchtime.” He later amended this position, saying that the water quality regulations would be “revised or repealed.”
The rules for intensive winter grazing have come under special criticism from the party, as has the limit on nitrogen fertilizers on dairy farms.
It is also targeting regulations aimed at reducing agricultural methane emissions.
Tom Lee / Stuff
The party would revoke or revise recent government regulations on water quality.
The government passed a law that includes agricultural emissions in the ETS in 2025 if no other pricing mechanism is worked out beforehand, or in 2022 if the government in power decides that not enough progress has been made on the alternative pricing mechanism.
National would rule out that 2022 review.
It would also make seven changes to the Zero Carbon Act, the far-reaching climate goals law that supported passage.
The key changes are a review of the methane target included in the law, to be conducted by the Climate Change Commission, a review of the use of forestry to offset emissions, and the separation of methane from overall “carbon budgets” They are meant to guide governments for decades to come.
The party is also interested in changing the law for the Climate Change Commission to review the level of action taken by other developed countries, advising the Government on whether New Zealand’s actions were in line with them or not.
National has also partnered with those who oppose the use of forestry to offset carbon emissions.
The pressure group 50 Shades of Green, whose spokesman Mike Butterick is now a National Party candidate, has argued that huge new forest blocks threaten the existence of rural communities.
The party promised an immediate review of the use of forestry offsets in the ETS and will eliminate a streamlined Office of Foreign Investment process currently in place for forestry applications.
National is also keen to step up penalties for biosecurity crimes, more actively pursue free trade agreements and build rural broadband infrastructure.
Bennett said the Labor Party was “taking farmers for granted” and National was eager to let them thrive without unnecessary regulation.
“National’s approach to agriculture is simple: allow the sector to prosper by investing and encouraging innovation, without restricting the sector with excessive regulations,” said Bennett.
“National is proud of New Zealand’s history as the world’s best food and fiber producer, and we are committed to making it the future of New Zealand as well.”
Labor promised farmers $ 50 million to help with compliance costs Wednesday.
GREEN PARTY: POLITICS “DECIMAR” THE ENVIRONMENT
Green Party co-leader James Shaw criticized National’s policy as “dangerous.”
“The policy presented today, which dismantles key parts of the Zero Carbon Act and new freshwater regulations, shows that they are anti-science and anti-climate,” Shaw said.
“National once again shows its contempt for future generations in its proposal to dismantle the enormous advances in the environment and climate action.”
“The Green Party is proposing a $ 297 million fund to help farmers transition to sustainable methods, while National wants to sabotage their efforts by withdrawing the crucial reforms implemented in this period.”
The federated farmers were more supportive.
“The National Party’s policies understand the importance and value of New Zealand’s agricultural sector in the role of our recovery of ‘the whole country’ for ‘all kiwis,'” said National President Andrew Hoggard.
“It’s nice to see that nine of this government’s new water regulations will also be revised, or repealed, under the National Policy. This simply has to happen, as written, they are not fit for purpose and will simply crush any chance of economic recovery farming.”
