Minister for Agriculture and Biosecurity Damien O'Connor. Photo / Supplied
Minister for Agriculture and Biosecurity Damien O'Connor. Photo / Supplied
The Ministry for Primary Industries confirmed yesterday that more than 22,000 cattle at properties infected with Mycoplasma bovis will be culled.
Minister for Agriculture and Biosecurity Damien O'Connor spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay about full and fair compensation for farmers affected by the cull.
"The Biosecurity Act clearly laysthat out, you know we have an obligation to give fair compensation."
O'Connor says the compensation process will have some challenges due to record systems that "aren't up to scratch," but he is doing all he can to get payments sorted as quickly as possible.
"I know there have been some frustrations with some farmers and we'll work though that. I can't physically intervene myself, other than to get officials to do it as quickly as they can."
"[The compensation process is] very complex. I'm sure most farmers would understand that and we're going to make sure the farmers get a fair deal."
Also in today's interview - Damien O'Connor talks about the logistics of a Cook Strait blockade to stop the spread of Mycoplasma bovis and how long before infected farms can be operational again.
