Page 1771 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 18 August 1992
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a uniform food code for Australia which would eventually be manifested in separate Food Acts in each of the States and Territories. I would have thought - to use a food analogy - that wine which had aged for 12 or so years would taste a little better than this does. Nonetheless, that is not to denigrate the achievement.
We do have, at last, comprehensive food legislation before the Assembly. It puts in place, as far as I can see, one of three important planks for making this comprehensive legislation effective, and I welcome its arrival at last. I understand that there will be at least one other Bill in this package, and perhaps two, dealing with both licensing and enforcement issues. When they arrive, I think we will be able at that stage to pat ourselves on the back and say that the Territory and its citizens are properly protected against unsafe, unhygienic or unhealthy food.
Madam Speaker, having called for this Bill for such a long time, I do not think that that excludes me from also commenting on what I would perceive to be some possible areas of weakness in the legislation. I would like to make reference to that in a minute. May I say, first of all, however, that it is important that the ACT remain part of the network around this country which is presently operating to protect Australians in the food that they eat and drink. That is a process which is being fostered through the National Food Code and through the operation of the National Food Authority.
The authority has the responsibility for accepting, in a sense, or formulating what standards will be adhered to by each of the Australian States and Territories. We have, I think, some surrender of sovereignty going on in a process which allows us to refer to this national body, to some extent, the process of setting up what standards we will adhere to in the ACT. There are some fundamental questions to consider in that respect, as to how we conform with those national standards and whether those standards should change urgently or over a period of time. One small example, which I am sure has been referred to before, is that in this jurisdiction it is legal to purchase and consume kangaroo meat. I understand that in most other jurisdictions, except for South Australia, I think, it is not legal. So we have to assess how the ACT will fall into line with that national pattern, if it does at all.
The National Food Authority plays an important role, obviously, in coordinating that process and setting the sorts of standards which we, individually, as different States and Territories, would be quite unable to set. Many new products each year come onto the market, both nationally and internationally. People want to export those to Australia and we, as a community, have to decide whether they are acceptable for our consumption or not. I am told, for example, from my contacts within the authority, that we are soon to see the Mars Light Bars, the Mars Bars which are low in fat and cholesterol. Those of us who enjoy Mars Bars but do not enjoy the aftermath might be very pleased to hear that that is coming down the track. Let us hope that the authority quickly deals with the necessary paperwork and tests.
Mr Lamont: There is not a sponsorship offering here, is there?
MR HUMPHRIES: I am not prepared to disclose that at this stage, Mr Lamont. Mrs Carnell has drawn attention to a number of areas of concern in this Bill and I will just touch on those again briefly. We do have what is perhaps a distressingly familiar sight in this legislation - the creation of very wide offences.
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