Farmers are irate over staff cuts

Manawatu-Rangitikei Federated Farmers is incensed at Government cuts to biosecurity front-line staff, saying it could cost the country millions of dollars.

Instead, it wants border protection beefed up.

Around 60 jobs are on the line in border control at MAF Biosecurity and Palmerston North's office might close in the restructure.

The move comes as national cargo volumes have fallen 13 per cent this year and passenger arrivals are down by three to four per cent.

But Federated Farmers' provincial president Gordon McKellar said it is nonsense to cut front line staff protecting borders.

"Incursions could destroy New Zealand's economy and environment. We are already underperforming in border protection with recent pests and diseases getting through our leaky borders," he said.

Instead of cutting biosecurity numbers, it should be seen as an opportunity, with import volumes down, to increase New Zealand's border protection.

"Would the same careless policy apply to the military or police force? Just cut front line numbers if we temporarily have peace or a reduced crime rate?"

Mr McKellar said with the armed forces or police, more can be spent later to reduce crime.

"That is not the case with increased failures to keep pests and diseases out.

"Once they are in and established it can be a permanent loss to the country," he said.

He gave the example of the clover root weevil, which is costing New Zealand hundreds of millions of dollars every year in lost pasture growth.

"That's just one failure. Imagine if we could have had better border protection and kept the clover root weevil out and had that extra revenue in these difficult economic times."

- © Fairfax NZ News