is doing. He talks about supporting the provinces but we
sheep chasing their tails in a yard. BELL RUNG
BELL RUNG I call Hamish Walker. Ijust want to
reflect on
reflect on a few areas that popped UP
reflect on a few areas that popped up during the
review of the Primary Production select
Production select committee. On a number of
number of occasions the recent policy
that are going to have a severe and negative impact on rural
communities like
negative impact on rural communities
official, rural New Zealand is under attack. Whether it
is the extra tax farmers in Gore
or Mossburn will be paying at the pump for Auckland's
trams or
allowance
drink their first year of student studies
studies away or last week's
announcement in oil or offshore gas exploration, an industry that will
be destroyed
exploration,
just a couple of weeks ago when the Rural Health Alliance was declined
a
person in New Zealand. They provide a great service
to our rural communities,
communities, especially in areas like mental health.
Last week's announcement of an interim
change commission is worrying to the extreme. It seems likely that
will be forced into the ETS. The list
goes on and on.
I was disappointed to hear funding
for vital irrigation projects that support not only
dairy but cult but
horticultural industries
industries will be axed. This was announced about the
same time that hardworking
hardworking an honest farmers in Otago
through the worst drought in decades. I want
Otago and Southland farmers who have put up with so much hardship over
put up with so much hardship over the past several months. It
has been a
a very challenging time on many
fronts. First there was the drought, speaking
speaking with so many farmers who
have been in the district for many, many
many decades, often told me this summer was the worst,
the hottest they have ever experienced. As I
drove around the
electorate looking at the land, usually green
usually green and lush at this time of
of year, it was brown and dry. Looking more like a
desert in the middle of Africa.
struggled over summer to grow crops for winter. Once
winter hits in a couple of
couple of months, some will really start to feel the pinch.
Could the member
member come to the appropriations
all related in the PMI review. You need
need to make in it your speech. In December
December last time, around the same time the drought was kicking
time the drought was kicking in along came Mycoplasma
Bovis that was widespread in
widespread in Southland. M. Bovis is a
a cattle Decemberese and bacterial infection that
infection that can cause a range of conditions
conditions in cattle. This disease affects
affects animal welfare and production and, for the
record, humans cannot catch this.
The biggest
biggest risk is animal movement. If M.
M. Bovis spreads throughout New
Zealand we will see a small decline
in output. It won't bring the industry to its needs
but as a country, we will feel it.
Iwant to acknowledge
acknowledge the Rural Support Trusts across the
across the country have been working hard, incredibly
hard, incredibly hard assisting rural people.
rural people. From owners to manager, staff and contractors in
these tough times. I want to take this
this opportunity to thanking the hardworking
hardworking MPI staff on the ground who have worked long days and
nights in
in the effort to eradicate this terrible disease. Speaking to some
of the field
staff, it is clear how committed
committed they are. However, some admitted
admitted to me the fear that they have for their jobs
have for theirjobs due to the restructure currently under
commissioned by the Minister of Agriculture. It simply
isn't fair to put
put these hardworking staff under more pressure. I don't agree with
the minister's
million to rebrand MPI just to put a few new stickers on the doors.
During the MPI review, I did askthe head of
head of MP! how are staff feeling and how
have been broken
departments. He couldn't answer. I want to give
one bit of credit to the
the Minister of Agriculture and he has an income of
doing, that whenever
whenever he declares a drought, within
within 48 hours the rain starts to appean
appear. I do commend the minister of that one
that one thing. Point of order. Not to
that one thing. Point of order. Not
last member during his fantastic contribution but I did
just want to get,
get, some clarification, as to whether or not the
House is still enabling newer members
have had some direction in respect to that
to that point. That's fine. Newer members I do
give a bit of licence to but the member
makes a good point
that we are in debate, we are in committee
committee and it should be off the cuff. There are no more speakers on
the primary
cuff. There are no more speakers on
is that the reports of committees relevant to the primary sector
be noted. The ayes have it. If question
is that
is that the reports of committees relevant to the
social development and housing sector be noted. I give
the call to
the Chairperson of that
select committee, Gareth Hughes.
everybody. I rise to speak on the annual
annual review debate on social development
development and the housing sector.