Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Canavan and Williams, move:

That the Senate—

(a) recognises and applauds the work of the Federal Government's community consultation process in delivering clear and practical country of origin labelling rules; and

(b) further recognises that Australian produce and food processing is of world class standard, and that these labelling rules are an important step in making it easier for consumers to identify locally grown and processed food.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia's farmers and food manufacturers are under pressure. We all want to support our farmers and workers by buying local products, but our current country of origin labelling is too confusing. In fact, consumer advocacy group Choice found that 90 per cent of Australians are not clear on where their food comes from. We will remove the confusion by establishing clear labels for country of origin. I fully support the words I just read out. They are actually the words from the Australian Greens website. It is their policy. It is from their website. Later on in the website they go on to say that the National Party has said that it will champion clearer laws but has failed to act. We are acting. We have acted. I applaud the government for acting. I am not sure if the Greens already have voted with us on this, but I hope that they do, because normally the put partisan politics ahead of principles, but this time they have a chance to vote with their principles and not continue their unenviable record of only supporting the government two per cent of the time.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion moved by Senator O'Sullivan be agreed to.

Question agreed to.