Seafood Industry

The Hon. S.L. GAME (14:43): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development on the seafood industry.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.L. GAME: Concerns over the mislabelling of cheap Chinese fish as South Australian garfish sold in the food services industry have increased in local media outlets recently and present a threat to our local fishing industry. I understand that, since 2006, it has been a legal requirement that all fresh seafood sold by retailers to the Australian public must be clearly labelled with its country of origin.

However, the regulations excluded or exempted cooked or pre-prepared seafood sold in outlets such as restaurants, hotels, cafes and takeaway shops. It has been reported that so-called garfish are flooding the market from China and being sold to unknowing consumers for up to a third of the price of our premium and distinctive South Australian garfish.

These cheap imitation imports are negatively impacting local fishers whose annual income can derive significantly from the sale of fresh South Australian garfish. The seafood industry contributed half a billion dollars to the South Australian economy in 2021-22 and is a significant contributor to regional jobs and local communities.

Seafood industry advocates claim that improving country of origin labelling laws would be a significant job creator, with the Australian Prawn Farmers Association, for example, telling a Senate committee hearing almost a decade ago that it would result in a 17-fold increase in jobs.

This issue has been discussed at a state and federal level for almost two decades but action has consistently been delayed by successive ministers. My questions to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development are:

1. Does the minister acknowledge the concerns of local fishers over the mislabelling of cheap imports as South Australian garfish?

2. Will the minister advocate to the relevant state and federal ministers for changes to our consumer labelling laws that will address these concerns?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:45): I thank the honourable member for her question and her interest in this matter. Clearly she, like myself, is keen to see local consumers protected from any misleading advertising or labelling and also to protect local industry.

Certainly, yes, I do, in terms of the first question, acknowledge the concerns that the honourable member has raised. This is predominantly a federal matter because country of origin labelling is under the federal jurisdiction. However, I certainly would be keen to advocate to the federal government, and potentially with my other state and territory colleagues, on ways that this can be progressed.