Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Minister for Small Business) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Mallee says, 'Go Jock!' Don't give him your mobile number; he will text you every morning at 5 o'clock. But we has got it, member for Mallee, because he is always talking about making these changes not just because they sound good or because they are funky but to make sure that we make them so that they are meaningful.

The country-of-origin labelling reforms will be implemented by the new country-of-origin food labelling information standard under Australian consumer law—an area that I am responsible for as the Minister for Small Business. This legislation amends the existing safe harbour defences for country-of-origin claims. The amended legislation will apply to country-of-origin claims on all products, not just food. The reforms started on 1 July. The first labels are expected to appear in stores—and some already have. Businesses have two years to transition to the new labels. All stock in trade at the end of the period can see out its shelf life. To complement the reforms the government is also working with industry to digitise food product information to better position business and consumers for the future. That is so important. As I said, there has been stakeholder consultation. That is something that we as a coalition government always does.

The government understands that this bill needs to get through. It needs to get through because it is so important. It is important for farmers, it is so important for 'Mr and Mrs Average', it is so important for consumers going to supermarkets to know what they are buying is in fact what it says on the label. Truth in labelling is so important.

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