Senate debates

Thursday, 7 September 2006

Questions without Notice

Horticulture Code of Conduct

3:26 pm

Photo of Eric AbetzEric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

Senator O’Brien is very wisely off the topic of forests today and hiding in the area of horticulture. I think he is well advised to be asking questions about horticulture as opposed to forestry. I can inform the honourable senator and all those senators over there, if they are willing to listen, that, whilst the government is still working through the detail of the horticulture code, it is committed to improving the day-to-day relationships between fruit and vegetable growers and wholesalers by providing greater certainty and clarity for transactions. It remains clear that there need to be minimum terms of trade that are transparent and enforceable in law. Growers have the right to know prior to the sale whether the wholesaler is acting as an agent or a merchant. Other aspects that are being worked on as part of this process include an effective dispute resolution mechanism and the provision of clear market signals on price. In short, I say to the honourable senator: watch this space. The government will be making its announcement on the determination very shortly.

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