August 11, 2010 THE Nationals and Liberals are now both split over managed investment schemes.
Official policy is the Liberals support MIS and the Nationals oppose it.
READ MORE Row in Coalition over MIS
But in response to questions by The Weekly Times last week, Nationals leader Warren Truss said there were schemes which had "worked very well, particularly in the forestry sector".
And Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce had said MIS could "have a role" but could cause problems in irrigation areas and "particularly (in) forestry" and would be discussed after the election.
Nationals colleague and Mallee MP John Forrest said supporting MIS was the "biggest mistake the Coalition has ever made".
He told The Weekly Times he was "bitterly opposed" to MIS and said: "I don't care what other people think".
"If it's commercially viable to invest in whatever, (then) they don't need additional upfront tax breaks," Mr Forrest said.
"Even with an upfront tax break they (MIS companies) have gone broke.
"The forestry stuff ... closed towns."
Some 500,000ha and 40,000 megalitres of water formerly owned by MIS companies is tipped to be in foreign ownership by the end of next year following the collapse of MIS companies.
Sustainable Agricultural Communities Australia director Rob Belcher asked "what planet" Mr Truss was living on.
Mr Belcher said MIS had been introduced into forestry to "expand and enhance" the sawlog industry, but had only increased the production of pulp for paper while sawmillers lost their jobs.
Victorian Farmers Federation Sunraysia branch MIS spokesman Bill McClumpha said he was disgusted at continued bipartisan support for MIS.
Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop admitted MIS was "unfair" at a recent Liberal party meeting in Wannon, while local candidate Dan Tehan had said there should be "no tax advantages given to corporates over family farmers."
This would seem to put both at odds with Liberal policy.
Liberal senator Richard Colbeck last week stated MIS would not be scrapped under a Coalition Government. He said the Nationals would not be able to convince the Liberals otherwise after the election
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