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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-03-28 Daily Xml
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NATIONAL FOOD REGULATION

The Hon. M. PARNELL (15:01): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question about national food regulation.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M. PARNELL: In answer to a question I asked in the last sitting week on the lack of place of origin food labelling, the minister said:

I understand the member's frustration. It has been a long-standing issue that has been debated for quite some time. I am sympathetic to the honourable member's sentiments. I think it is something that we should be moving towards at a more rapid rate. It is an issue that needs to be coordinated nationally. South Australia is attempting to assist in expediting efforts in that direction.

The work at a national level is undertaken by the Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation. According to that forum's website, membership of the forum comprises ministers from the commonwealth, New Zealand and the states and territories. The commonwealth is represented by both the Minister for Agriculture and the Parliamentary Secretary for Health, New South Wales is represented by both the Minister for Primary Industries and the Minister for Health, and so too is Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. However, in South Australia we are represented only by the minister for health.

It seems as if, despite having an entitlement to sit on this committee, the South Australian Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries has not availed herself of that opportunity. So, whilst I welcome the minister's sympathy for the Greens' call for more information to be given to consumers and also accept the minister's assessment that these critical decisions are made nationally, we also have to note that the process for reform at a national level is moving at a glacial pace. My questions are:

1. Is it the minister's choice to not be a member of the national Legislative and Governance Forum in Food Regulation?

2. If it is not the minister's choice, will she now seek to join this COAG ministerial council that sets national policy on food regulation?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (15:04): This is a very sore point indeed, and one I have been attempting to address. In fact, I feel most strongly that as minister for primary industries I should be a member of that forum. I currently am not. I have written and requested that that be addressed. If I recall, I believe I have received correspondence back from the federal government representatives who denied my membership. I had then intended to take that up through the Premier and insist on it.

It is quite outrageous; as I said, it is quite a sore point. It is outrageous that both ministers here in South Australia are not represented. There are distinct policy issues that are most relevant to both portfolio areas, and I feel most strongly that I should be a member of it, and I believe I have quite a lot to contribute as well. So, it is something I am pursuing and will continue to pursue most vigorously.

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