8. Question No. 8—AgricultureSUZE REDMAYNE (National—Rangitīkei) to the Minister of AgricultureQuestion No. 8—Agriculture8. SUZE REDMAYNE (National—Rangitīkei) to the Minister of Agriculture: What actions has the Government taken to support the primary sector?Hon TODD McCLAY (Minister of Agriculture): Well the Government is absolutely committed to meeting our climate change obligations. However it just doesn't make sense to shut down Kiwi farms and send jobs and production overseas so that less carbon-efficient countries produce the food that the world needs. The Government therefore is delivering on its election commitments to take agriculture out of the emissions trading scheme (ETS) to disestablish He Waka Eke Noa and to restore confidence in the sector. Instead the Government will engage directly with a small group of industry leaders through a new pastoral sector group and today we have announced we have commissioned an independent review of the science and targets of methane against additional warming so that farmers will know exactly what it is they need to achieve.Suze Redmayne: Is the Government committed to reducing agricultural emissions?Hon TODD McCLAY: Yes and that's why the Government is investing further in R & D development to develop practical tools with $400 million being committed over the next four years to accelerate the commercialisation of tools and technology to reduce on-farm emissions including an additional $50.5 million funding for the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre. Just this week the Government and the BNZ announced an additional $8 million commitment towards AgriZero to boost New Zealand's efforts to reduce agricultural emissions with the development of technology like methane vaccines a project to lower-emissions cattle something so that the Opposition members produce less hot air and accelerate the work of methane and nitrous oxide. We are investing heavily in research and development to provide farmers with tools to reduce methane not to reduce productivity.Suze Redmayne: What more is the Government doing to support the rural economy?SPEAKER: I'm sure there's plenty but keep it a concise answer.Hon TODD McCLAY: Well we've heard loud and clear concerns from farmers and growers with the role that banks have played over recent years. Promoting robust competition in the banking sector is vital to rebuilding the economy and that's why the Government has written to the Finance and Expenditure Committee and the Primary Production Committee to undertake an inquiry into banking competition including rural banking. Growing the rural economy is critical to rebuilding New Zealand's economy and with farmer satisfaction and banking services dropping over recent years it's critical that we better understand the role that the bank competition can play for the rural sector.Suze Redmayne: What else has the Government announced to support our rural communities?Hon TODD McCLAY: Well the National - Act - New Zealand First coalition Government knows that local issues require local solutions. That's why we've also announced that we will be backing farmers to improve land management practices and water quality with further commitment to support locally led catchment groups. Catchment groups and collectors are an integral and vital part in rebuilding an expert-driven economy so the Government is committing $36 million to support these groups with $7 million of this going directly to catchment groups across the country.