|
2008: Agriculture
STRENGTHENING OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES
Agriculture is the backbone of New Zealand’s economy and will be at the heart of the economic step change that our country so badly needs.
That’s why it’s important the government plays its role by keeping our domestic cost structures as low as possible, creating the conditions for continual innovation, and strengthening our rural communities.
National will deliver the solutions for an innovative, competitive, and prosperous rural sector.
OUR PRINCIPLES
• A globally competitive economy.
• Encouraging ambition.
• Balancing the economy and the environment.
• Strengthening our communities.
NATIONAL’S PLAN
1. Improving International Competitiveness
• Reform the Resource Management Act to simplify and streamline the consent process.
• Implement an ETS that balances environmental and economic interests and does not compromise the international competiveness of our agriculture.
• Introduce a 90-day trial period for new employees by agreement between employer and employee, for businesses with fewer than 20 staff.
2. Creating the Conditions for Growth
• Commit $70 million a year to primary sector research & development. Establish an international centre for research into greenhouse gas emissions from livestock. Wind up the Fast Forward Fund.
• Introduce voluntary bonding and student loan write-offs/financial incentives for graduate vets prepared to work in hard-to-staff rural areas.
• Aggressively pursue multilateral and bilateral trade opportunities, while challenging ‘soft trade’ barriers such as food miles.
• Reinvest any cash dividend received from Landcorp back into the primary sector.
• Reduce the barriers to hiring seasonal workers from countries outside the existing RSE Scheme. Introduce a temporary work visa for up to six months for any legal visitor to New Zealand who obtains a guaranteed seasonal job offer.
3. Supporting Rural Communities
• Uphold private property rights and place emphasis on enabling public access through public land where possible. Any access over private land should be gained through a process of voluntary negotiation not compulsion.
• Support the principle of Tenure Review but restore confidence in the process and ensure the intent of the Crown Pastoral Land Act is fulfilled.
• Invest $1.5 billion in a ‘fibre to the home’ broadband network. Double the Broadband Challenge Fund to $48 million and focus it on
providing fast broadband solutions for remote and rural communities.
• Recognise the vital role that schools play in our rural communities and provide them with the resources and support they need.
• Introduce voluntary bonding and student loan debt write-offs for graduate doctors, nurses and midwives working in hard-to-staff rural areas.
• Improve the relationship between the rural community and the Department of Conservation by bringing greater accountability to DOC and encouraging private conservation.
|