Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation) Share this | Hansard source

I will take those issues on in good faith. The shadow minister raised very serious issues relating to SPC. There is good reason the agriculture minister acted quickly in referring them to the trade minister and making him aware of those. The level of concern is there.

Some extra information has arrived. The company wrote to the Prime Minister on 29 April requesting that the government impose safeguard measures in the form of increased tariffs on retail sized canned tomato and multiserve fruit products. The department has reviewed the request to determine whether there is a possible case to impose provisional and/or full safeguard measures. It was on the basis of that review that the agricultural minister referred the issue to the minister for trade and to the Treasurer. I understand that the minister for trade and the Treasurer will consider the agriculture minister's recommendation in consultation with the Prime Minister, the Treasurer and Minister for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation. The government will work to make its decision on this matter as quickly as possible. If it is determined that a possible case for safeguard measures exists the government would refer the request to a competent authority, currently the Productivity Commission, to conduct an investigation in accordance with WTO rules. The competent authority would recommend whether measures should be imposed.

I am mindful of the time. What I would like to do on the remaining issues is suggest that the minister's office will be in direct contact with the shadow minister's office to work out the appropriate form of providing answers to those questions, whether it be in writing, through me or through the Notice Paper. I will ask the minister's office to make contact with the shadow minister as soon as possible.

Proposed expenditure agreed to.

Debate adjourned.

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