Federated Farmers is backing an ACT Party Member’s Bill that would repeal the ban on live exports. ACT’s primary industries spokesperson, Mark Cameron, put the bill into the ballot last week, asking if New Zealand was wealthy enough to flush away a half-a-billion-dollar industry. Mark Cameron says the government was advised not to proceed with the ban because it would hammer rural New Zealand, but they forged ahead anyway. Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre says industry-initiated Live Export NZ ‘Gold Standard’ animal welfare precautions, and independent enforcement of the recommendations on sea voyages shows New Zealand can be a global example in this trade.
Richard McIntyre says the cyclones have put a massive hit on our infrastructure and productive sector; For example he says it may be years before our pip fruit industry recovers. The live export ban comes into full effect on April 30, but the live cattle trade will continue overseas with countries and exporters with lower animal standards filling the gap left by NZ. Richard McIntyre says the debate should be based on facts rather than politics and ideology.
