Media Release
Senator Grant Tambling
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Aged Care
29th June 2001
GOVERNMENT DELIGHTED AS NEW FOOD BILL PASSES FEDERAL PARLIAMENT:TAMBLING
The Federal Government is delighted with the passage of a Bill in the early hours of this morning that sets in place a solid foundation for the food regulation reforms that were agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments in November 2000, Senator Grant Tambling, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, said today.
'The Federal government is implementing major reforms to strengthen and reform food safety in this country which are based on an agreement between all States, Territories and the Commonwealth,' Senator Grant Tambling said, 'and this legislation is a key part of these reforms.'
Senator Tambling said the legislation establishes a new statutory authority, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, to be based upon the existing Australia New Zealand Food Authority.
'The legislation strengthens the capacity of the Authority to develop standards based on scientific and technical criteria and to protect public health and safety.
' The ALP and Democrats had made a number of amendments to the Bill in the Senate which the Government could not agree to because they interfered with the rights of New Zealand and the States and Territories.
'The Government approach has been to develop an agreed partnership with all States and Territories and New Zealand
' I suspect the Government amendments were accepted by the Opposition in the House of Representatives as they realised they were in danger of ruining well thought out food reforms,' Senator Tambling said.
Senator Tambling said the next task for the Government in implementing the reforms was to renegotiate the Treaty between Australia and New Zealand. The new legislation will commence once the Treaty with New Zealand has been signed.
' I firmly believe that all parties should be satisfied that the new legislation will guarantee that public health and safety is the number one objective
' The new system will provide for national consistency in the interpretation, administration and enforcement of food regulation and ensure consumers have sufficient information to make informed choices,' Senator Tambling said.