Farmers side with Act over ETS fears

David Carter. Photo / Christine Cornege

Agriculture Minister warns Nat MPs of concerted campaign to stop the scheme

National MPs have been privately warned about an Act-Federated Farmers bid to stoke farmers' fears over the looming emissions trading scheme - suggesting National's relationship with its coalition partner is under increasing strain.

MP Shane Ardern says Act's campaign is a ploy for political survival by scaring up support from rural voters, and it should "put its money where its mouth is" and reconsider its coalition agreement with the Government if it is really committed to stopping the emissions trading scheme (ETS).

An internal memo from Agriculture Minister David Carter to MPs warns of a "concerted campaign to raise opposition to the ETS in rural communities".

"Many of the figures being circulated in support of this campaign are at best misleading, at worst wrong and are simply aimed at raising fear among farmers."

Wild claims that the ETS would cost the average dairy farmer up to $10,000 a year were simply rubbish, Mr Carter wrote. He included figures produced by Meat & Wool NZ which he hoped would be "of help in rebutting some of the misinformation being spread among rural electorates", and urged MPs "to be active in addressing this issue and in allaying local farmer concerns".

Act's campaign comes as its MPs have attacked National with increasing belligerence in the House over the ETS and other issues including the signing of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Mr Ardern said Act was behaving as though it was in Opposition.

This week Act leader Rodney Hide suggested National's own rank and file were rebelling against the ETS with 300 members at its Central North Island conference last weekend unanimously passing a remit demanding the Government defer introduction of the scheme.

Environment Minister Nick Smith denied that, as did National MPs spoken to by the Herald, including Mr Ardern, who said Mr Hide and his colleague John Boscawen's motives were political.

"They can see an opportunity to go out there and pinch some National Party voters and I would describe that as the most flakiest politics of all."

He said Act's tenuous political situation was why "they're desperately out there trying to clutch at straws trying to shore themselves up".

Mr Carter told the Herald Act was not doing well in any polls and were trying to raise a profile in rural New Zealand and secure some votes, but weren't doing particularly well at it.

However, Mr Ardern, who conceded Act would be doing some harm to National, indicated Mr Hide could stop the ETS if he wished by reconsidering his party's confidence and supply agreement with National.

"They're out grandstanding around rural New Zealand on this issue. If they're really committed to this why don't they put their money where their mouth is?"

Federated Farmers dairy chairman Lachlan McKenzie confirmed his organisation had co-operated with Act in efforts to defer the ETS, which was opposed by more than 80 per cent of its members.

WHAT IT WILL COST
Annual financial impact of the emissions trading scheme on the average dairy farmer from July 1:

* $3900 according to National
* $7800 - $10,000 according to Act