Labour split over land grab compo?

ACT Rural Affairs spokesman Gerry Eckhoff today called on Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton to confirm or deny whether Labour plans to compensate farmers for the theft of their property rights.

 

Mr Eckhoff was responding to comments by Labour list MP Lesley Soper at a Federated Farmers meeting in Southland last night, where she said the Government would consider compensating farmers if its land access legislation goes ahead.

 

“Ms Soper’s comments clash with statements made by Mr Sutton in December last year, when he said compensation was ‘unlikely’.

 

“Either the Labour caucus is split on the issue of compensation for its Mugabe-style land grab, or its telling farmers one thing in public and doing another behind closed doors.

 

“Mr Sutton should come clean and tell farmers what’s really going on,” Mr Eckhoff said.

 

ENDS