ACT announces rural policy

The ACT Party says it would help farmers by getting rid of red tape and cutting taxes.

"We will uphold the sanctity of property rights, reward hard work through tax cuts, slash red tape and protect farmers and their property from thugs and bullies," said MP Gerry Eckhoff when he launched the party's rural policy today.

Mr Eckhoff accused successive National and Labour governments of neglecting rural New Zealand and regarding farming as a "sunset industry".

He said ACT's policy would:

* uphold property rights and oppose any legislation that would deny farmers the right to say who could enter their property;

* reduce compliance costs, remove "layers of government" and end ACC's insurance monopoly;

* end the "confiscation by regulation" of rural development rights; and

* fund roading through fuel taxes, road user charges and tolls.

- NZPA