Economy - Agriculture
The role of government should be to create an environment where the [agricultural] industry can flourish in the most free and efficient manner ACT believes in low taxes, low tariffs, and less restrictive legislation and regulation and a control of public spending at Central, Regional and Local Government level ACT opposes New Zealand ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and opposes the introduction of an Emissions Trading Scheme [Will] provide an effective and well resourced system of Bio Security so that harmful organisms are prevented from entering New Zealand and harmful organisms already in New Zealand do not affect our international trade
Strongly support mandatory country of origin labelling for all single-ingredient imported agricultural products Continue to support and improve ways of communicating to the public on the value and importance of buying local Encourage all food and fibre products intended for export as ‘Product of NZ’ to meet or exceed minimum sustainability standards, such as Kiwi Green and Sustainable Wine Growing New Zealand Promote the target of half of New Zealand’s production becoming certified organic by 2020, with the remainder in the process of conversion, with a goal of 15% of farms certified organic or in conversion by 2015
Not set out on their website.
Establish an international centre for research into greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, at the cost of $20 million a year Increase funding within Vote RS&T for primary sector and food research of $25 million a year Increase funding for research consortia in the primary and food sectors of $25 million a year Reduce the barriers to hiring seasonal workers from countries outside the existing RSE Scheme, in cases where the scheme is unable to meet employers' needs Double the size of the Broadband Challenge Fund to $48 million and give it the primary focus of providing fast broadband solutions for remote and rural communities
Ensure that agriculture and horticulture receive the emphasis and priority in science funding and strategy that they deserve Provide base funding to develop and promote organic farming options Promote policies that recognise that because of varying international commodity prices Build on the 1997 New Zealand First initiative to reduce the sale of land to overseas interests Focus taxation policies on incentives for key developmental initiatives leading to rapid export growth with a 20% tax rate on 'new export' net income