New Zealand’s red meat sector has launched a list of policy demands for political parties to act on as the country prepares to head into a General Election year.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Meat Industry Association say farmers are feeling overwhelmed by the wave of regulatory reform over the past 12 months.
Rising input prices and softening global market conditions are compounding the challenges for farmers and…
It’s now more important than ever that the Government ensures the right policies, regulations and rules are in place so farmers can continue to lift productivity, foster innovation and produce world-class, sustainable and premium food.
The list of policy demands has been released for political parties to act on as the country prepares to head into a General Election year.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Meat Industry Association’s summary manifesto spans five key areas:
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- climate and environment policy
- workforce and industrial relations
- trade
- biosecurity
- innovation, research and development
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The manifesto has been sent to every Member of Parliament and relevant officials.
The key policy demands from B+LNZ and MIA include:
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- New Zealand should report annually on new warming as well as emissions
- amend the methane targets
- back a workable and equitable agricultural emissions pricing framework, which incorporates a cautious approach to pricing and ensures all genuine sequestration is recognised – we will not accept a system which disproportionately affects sheep and beef farmers
- continue support for processors to transition away from coal to renewable energy
- urgent measures to curb the sale of sheep and beef farms into carbon farms
- replace the low slope map for stock exclusion with a more effective general rule
- address concerns with the Biodiversity National Policy Statement (NPS) to ensure the policy settings are right so it encourages good biodiversity outcomes and doesn’t add unnecessary regulation
- review the Fair Pay Agreement legislation
- ensure immigration settings help address genuine industry labour shortages where they can’t be filled domestically.
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B+LNZ and MIA will be using this manifesto as the basis for discussions with the current Government and opposition parties as they develop their policy positions for the next election.
A full sector manifesto will be launched next year. The summary manifesto can be viewed below.
Meanwhile, the red meat sector has also outlined key developments and achievements over the past six months in the latest edition of the Red Meat Report.
Source: Beef + Lamb New Zealand
