Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Fraser for his question and for his persistent and ongoing interest in good public policy. The Food Standards Amendment (Truth in Labelling—Palm Oil) Bill 2011passed the Senate on 23 June with the support of the coalition. The stated aim of the bill is improvements in consumer labelling but the government already has in place consumer labelling requirements and ongoing processes for considering improvements in consumer labelling. The bill threatens yet again Australian exports, Australian jobs and Australian small businesses. Once again we see an example of the economic recklessness of the Leader of the Opposition and his desire for opportunism over good policy.

Last night we were able to watch the spectacle of humiliation of the shadow minister for agriculture as the item came up. Where were they? The item on New Zealand apples just disappeared without trace. He completely missed it. There he was a couple of days before saying, 'I'm proceeding with my apples bill.' And what does he do? He is confronted with a humiliating backdown.

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