Budget steps welcome but detail wanted

WHILE farming groups welcomed aspects of Budget 2020, there was concern over the Government’s future plan for the primary industries.

Federated Farmers said it found plenty of highlights, but it was wary of the longterm plan for the primary industries’ contribution to New Zealand’s economic recovery.

‘‘Farmers will be pleased with announcements of a $1.1 billion environmental jobs spend and specific mention of control of pests such as wallabies and wilding pines. Also positive is the increased support for biodiversity on private land through agencies like QEII and Landcare Trust,’’ Federated Farmers vicepresident and economics spokesman Andrew Hoggard said.

‘‘But as with so many aspects of the Budget announcements, the devil will be in the detail.’’

The Budget included $500 million in initiatives that would ensure the primary industries were supported, Mr Hoggard said.

‘‘We look forward to seeing more detail on that. We appreciate it appears we’ve been listened to on many of the areas for potential work we’ve raised with government.’’

The Budget’s investment of another $3 billion in infrastructure was also a big spend, but the decisions on where the money would go were yet to be made, he said.

‘‘We would hope enhanced rural connectivity, money for water storage and road maintenance are prime candidates for that investment, as both will help drive primarysector production and competitiveness.’’

Federated Farmers said the Budget’s provision for retraining and support for those New Zealanders who would be among the forecast 10% unemployed by next month was also the right step.

Federated Farmers had set up its own apprenticeship scheme to find dairy industry workers, and was looking forward to seeing more Government support for it and similar schemes.

‘‘Keeping as many Kiwis in work as possible is obviously a priority. We appreciate the acknowledgement of how important the primary sector will be to economic recovery; of $1.6 billion for training and apprenticeships, $19.3 million is earmarked to place 10,000 people into primary sector jobs. That’s a start.’’

DairyNZ said the Budget’s focus on jobs, infrastructure and the environment had ‘‘hit the spot’’, but ‘‘the devil will be in the detail for the dairy sector’’.

‘‘Dairy farmers will be particularly pleased to see a $19.3 million investment to place 10,000 people into primary sector jobs. Our sector is already facing a 1000person skill shortage that will be greatly exacerbated by Covid19 and an inability to recruit migrant staff,’’ DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle said.

Dr Mackle said a $3 billion investment in infrastructure was welcome news — ‘‘but while the dollars are there, the detail isn’t’’.

DairyNZ would engage with the Government to ensure water storage, rural broadband and enhanced mobile coverage were priorities.

IrrigationNZ said it thought Budget 2020 had missed the opportunity for water storage to be ‘‘part of the solution’’.

‘‘IrrigationNZ understands the exceptional circumstances of Covid19 but believes that strategic management of this essential resource remains important, and that a water strategy to guide spending would be beneficial,’’ chief executive Elizabeth Soal said. — The Country