Critic leaves centre stage

By PHILIPPA STEVENSON

Prominent dairy industry critic Tony Baldwin intends cutting his contribution to the debate on dairy industry issues.

"I feel like I've been beating the drum solo long enough. I'm interested in public policy in general, not just dairy," said the former Government policy adviser and Produce Board Reform Team leader.

Baldwin said his efforts had taken too much of his time and money.

"I've done three years of basically doing it pro bono, and I've forked out a lot of my own money."

The Dairy 2003 seminar in Hamilton last month was his last free appearance and he would charge for future addresses or articles.

He said he had not expected his efforts to become a fee-paying occupation because "no one has any money except Fonterra".