Page 1059 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 March 1991
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I think the proposed amendment to the Act would be contrary to the Chief Minister's agreement for uniform food legislation. It is certainly inconsistent with the national agreement on that score. It seems to me that we should be looking to reduce the number of incidents of the ACT being out of step, particularly with important and beneficial national developments such as uniform food legislation.
It is not a question just of making it convenient or pleasant for legislators or drafters and having the same legislation to work from. It is also a question of manufacturers, retailers and producers knowing that food which is acceptable and which conforms to the laws of one State will be acceptable and will conform to the laws of another State. It is extremely sad, I think, Mr Speaker, that we should find ourselves sitting in the middle of this kind of quandary when so much work is being done and has been done to bring the ACT into line with other States and Territories.
I accept the sentiment of what those opposite have done, but I hope that they realise that it is not appropriate to take that step at this point. The Government would be more than willing to approve and agree to legislation, even if brought forward by the Opposition, which actually conforms with those national food standards, with that national code.
Mr Berry: Why don't you amend it?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Berry interjects, why do we not amend it. There is no question of just changing a word here or there. The entire concept of putting into our own consumer affairs legislation provisions that deal with food is inappropriate. You cannot amend this. No amendment is going to cure this. It has to be thrown out and done properly in a food Act, which is what this Government is presently in the process of preparing. As I have said, it will be introduced into the Assembly later on this year.
MR BERRY (11.21): In the words of Mr Humphries, progress is not adequate. I think those words describe the situation most aptly. The Government's progress on this issue is inadequate, and I am very pleased that the Minister has recognised that. What I am disturbed about is his constant carping and whingeing about the fact that the Labor Party has recognised the problem and has done something about it. What we are about is providing legislation to improve the situation for the Territory's consumers. The Government opposite, of course, is not concerned about that.
Mr Humphries: It is inadequate.
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