Foss Craig: Dairy Industry Restructuring (New Sunset Provisions) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Foss Craig: Dairy Industry Restructuring (New Sunset Provisions) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:667;Page:14520] 
CRAIG FOSS (National—Tukituki) 
: 
 In relation to the Dairy Industry Restructuring (New Sunset Provisions) Amendment Bill 2010 there are a couple of points I need to clarify. I notice for the record that previous speakers particularly those from the Opposition are supporting the bill at this stage. The bill is only five-odd pages long so quite how they have managed to fill up 10 minutes on all other topics I do not know. I must also take issue with Mr Russel Norman the co-leader of the Greens. Yes he made an interesting speech but you know he was taking one plus one to equal 36 or something. Actually the bill is five pages long and it simply extends the balance and the competitive pressures that we are putting into the New Zealand dairy industry whilst other reviews are going on and other changes are under way—as other members have spoken about. It is actually as simple as that. There are all sorts of conspiracy theories running around the House but it is very very simple. 
For the record I must address one fact. The previous speaker Dr Ashraf Choudhary and one or two Labour member who spoke before him spoke about sales of New Zealand land to foreign entities. I point out because I have checked with the Minister concerned that this year a grand total of 8000 hectares of farmland have been sold from New Zealanders to offshore players whomever they might be. Some may argue that even that amount may be too much; some may argue it is too small. But we must put everything into context. In the year 2006 when Labour was in Government just in that single year a total of 384000 hectares were sold offshore—384000 hectares were sold in 2006 under the previous Labour Government. That Government followed due process just as the current Government is following due process around such sales. I am not making a judgment about whether that is right or wrong; all I am saying is that when we hear these loud speeches from the other side we must put things in context and work the numbers out. If we do so we will see that in 1 year under this National Government—this year—8000 hectares have been sold offshore and in 2006 384000 hectares of New Zealand land were sold to entities offshore under the previous Labour Government which was supported by the Green Party at that time. I needed to make that clear. 
I am very very proud of the New Zealand dairy industry—very proud. It has made some mistakes on the way but I am hugely bullish in respect of where the industry is going and its upside. Like many of the entities in that sector there is a growing awareness of the need for environmental integrity in relation to the products that are produced and sold. We fully acknowledge that and I fully acknowledge the steps that the industry has taken. But I resent it when some members tar all farmers—or all dairy farmers in this instance—with the same brush. Most farmers I know are hugely concerned about looking after the environment and being custodians of it for their children and the next generation. 
I say very quickly that some of the commentators have missed one of the key points of the need for this bill. For Fonterra and the New Zealand dairy industry to compete and to gain access to markets offshore they must have domestic competitive pressures within New Zealand. Otherwise they will come up with trade issues within the jurisdictions where they are trying to maintain quota. So that is a key point. That is why in conjunction with other measures such as the review announced yesterday it is relatively harmless but very significant that this bill is in place today. I look forward to working on it at the Primary Production Committee with other members. The review that was announced yesterday will address many of the concerns that members have raised in this House. Thank you.