5. Question No. 5—Agriculture (Animal Welfare Skills)MARK CAMERON (ACT) to the Associate Minister of Agriculture (Animal Welfare Skills)Question No. 5—Agriculture (Animal Welfare Skills)SPEAKER: Question No. 5 Mark Cameron. [Interruption]Mark Cameron: Thank you Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: Just wait a minute. Just giving the House a moment to settle.5. MARK CAMERON (ACT) to the Associate Minister of Agriculture (Animal Welfare Skills): What recent announcements if any has he made in his portfolio?Hon ANDREW HOGGARD (Associate Minister of Agriculture (Animal Welfare Skills)): Today the Minister of Agriculture and I announced our intention to improve freshwater farm plans to make them more cost-effective and pragmatic for farmers. I see freshwater farm plans as a key tool to support farmers to enhance the freshwater environment in the future but the current system is too costly too complex and too inflexible. This announcement signals the Government's intention to make farm plans fit for purpose and align to the particular circumstances of each farm and catchment.Chlöe Swarbrick: Point of order. Point of order. Point of order Mr Speaker. Just seeking your guidance—given that this is a patsy question it was filed to the Associate Minister of Agriculture (Animal Welfare Skills) the press release which is being alluded to—SPEAKER: Sorry that's not a point of order.Chlöe Swarbrick: Mr Speaker the press release that is being alluded to is—SPEAKER: It is entirely the Government's decision which Minister will answer a question.Mark Cameron: What changes to freshwater farm plans is he considering?Hon ANDREW HOGGARD: The sector has told us that the current system is rigid with time and money needed to complete a farm plan not lining up with the level of risk for many farmers. Among other things we will take a look at the certification and auditing requirements of the system with a view to ensuring that future settings are justifiable on the basis of cost and environmental benefit. We will also make sure that we are doing as much as we can to reduce duplication in farm planning. Many farmers are already doing comprehensive farm plans that in many cases could easily be recognised as equivalent.Mark Cameron: What value will an improved farm plan system provide farmers?Hon ANDREW HOGGARD: In addition to supporting and to protect and enhance the environment we intend to develop a flexible but robust system where farm plans can be specifically targeted to the unique needs of each farm and catchment. Ideally these plans can stand in the place of local rules and consents for a range of common farming activities.Mark Cameron: What does he intend to do for farmers in areas where a freshwater farm plan system is already being implemented?Hon ANDREW HOGGARD: The system roll-out began under the previous Government in parts of some regions including the Waikato and Southland where farmers have to put these plans or have them developed by early next year. We want to give as much certainty as possible to farmers as we work through these changes especially those that may already be putting their plans together. As part of that we may look into whether the current requirements to complete freshwater farm plans could be paused.