John Forrest (Mallee, National Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development) Share this | Hansard source

I support the member for Makin in bringing this resolution to the attention of the parliament. I have been in this place a long time and was raising issues in the early nineties about truth in labelling. I remember what was probably my first question in the early nineties to the then Minister for Consumer Affairs, the Hon. Jeannette McHugh, in the Keating government. She instituted some processes to put clarity into ‘Made in Australia’. But what I want to offer tonight is a slightly different tack to that of the member for Makin. His resolution is about health concerns, and I support that. My concern, representing food producers, is to engage in activities that encourage Australians to do what they want to do. Consumers have indicated that they want to support Australian products, because they are aware that this is supporting employment in Australian jobs. They are very loyal. In fact, it is quite a barbecue stopper for someone to pick up the sauce bottle or the orange juice at a barbecue and make some comment about where it came from or where it was made. The point I would like to make is that we already have tools in place to address this. The Hon. Warren Truss was the minister in the Howard government who introduced and reinforced the concept of ‘Product of Australia’.

I have brought along some products tonight, and I hope I have the indulgence of members in the House, and your indulgence, Mr Deputy Speaker, to use these props. It is a pity the standing orders do not allow for it. The point I want to make is just how confusing it is for consumers. These products have been provided to me by food producers in my electorate. Here is a product: it is breakfast cereal.

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