Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Labor will not be supporting this amendment. We are satisfied that the provisions contained in the government bill provide for a regulatory impact statement to be prepared as appropriate.

The CHAIRMAN: The question is that amendments (1) to (3) on sheet 7817 be considered. The question will be that items 14, 32 and 87 of schedule 1 stand as printed.

Question agreed to.

by leave—I move opposition amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 7804:

(1) Clause 2, page 2 (table item 4), omit the table item.

(2) Schedule 2, page 21 (line 1) to page 26 (line 13), to be opposed.

I did cover off these amendments during my earlier speech. They relate to the composition of the FSANZ board and the fact that we are not supporting the changes to the composition of the FSANZ board. This is on the bases that it is currently finely balanced and we are concerned that the proposed amendments by the government give the minister discretion to appoint a bloc of members to the board from a range of criteria. Our concern is that, if the minister were to appoint a bloc of consumer rights members or people with industry background, that balance on the board would be lost. As for whether to admit the National Health and Medical Research Council, it could also diminish expertise in relation to the skills set that they bring to the board. They have contributed excellently to the board over the last 15 years, and we see no reason why they should not be included or maintain their position on the board. We are also concerned in the overall reduction in the number of public health and science based positions on the board. We accept that juggling the appointments to the board is not an easy challenge for the minister; however, we are concerned that, by granting so much flexibility, the board potentially could lose focus or its independence.

It is the key decision-making body in FSANZ. It is charged with developing and implementing the food code. The opposition's view is that its composition remain unchanged. These amendments seek to do just that.