Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

The fact remains that the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research has achieved a great deal more than we ever saw achieved by the previous government in regard to the promotion of manufacturing in this country. Senator Colbeck mentioned the Pulp and Paper Industry Strategy Group, which for the first time in the history of this country brought together all the players in the pulp and paper industry. In regard to the food industry we will follow the same pattern, but that process will be engaged in after consultation with the industry so that we can ensure that all the players—all the stakeholders—get a chance to have their say and that we get a more innovative approach to the manufacturing of food in this country than we currently have and have historically seen. We want to ensure, for instance, that CSIRO—which alone has some 200 researchers working on food—is able to work more effectively with the investors, more effectively with workers and more effectively with the food companies in Australia. (Time expired)