Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia representing the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. Almost three years ago today, the Senate supported my motion for an inquiry into third-party food certification. The inquiry reported on 1 December 2015 and significantly focused on the scams and rorts within the halal certification industry, recommending that a single halal certification authority be created. This echoed a 1981 royal commission finding into the meat export industry, recommending an official Australian government certificate and stamp for halal slaughter certification in Australia. The inquiry identified that bribery, corruption, dodgy certificates and crooked dealings are endemic in the halal certification industry. Given these actions are a cost borne by Australian companies and consumers, why is the government continuing 37 years of inaction on halal certification, leaving Australians open to rip-offs and unnecessary additional costs?