Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Resources, I present the committee's report entitled Food for thought: the opportunities and challenges for Australia's food and beverage manufacturing industry, together with the minutes of proceedings.

Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e).

by leave—Australian food and beverages are amongst the best in the world. The food and beverage manufacturers use top quality raw products from Australian farms to make world-class goods that are prized both domestically and abroad.

The inquiry complements the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture's Australian food story: feeding the nation and beyond report.

That report examined how Australia's food security could be strengthened and safeguarded, with a focus on the agricultural pre-farmgate side of food production.

This inquiry looked at the next step, examining the post-farmgate manufacturing side of food production and the opportunities for expanding innovation and adding value.

In response to the evidence we received throughout the inquiry, the committee developed 23 recommendations to support the Australian food and beverage manufacturing sector.

Stakeholders told the committee that the lack of national and consistent direction on food policy was a problem for the industry.

The policies, regulations and plans that support Australia's food system across the country can conflict or contradict each other.

The committee's first recommendation reiterates the Standing Committee on Agriculture's Australian food story: feeding the nation and beyond report's key recommendation—that is, the Australian government develop a comprehensive national food plan.

A national food plan will provide cohesion for food policies and plans across the federal, state and local governments. Increased connections for the Australian food system will strengthen our ability to make progress together on food related issues.

The inquiry found many opportunities for expanding the Australian food and beverage manufacturing sector. These include export opportunities, integrating new technologies, building on Australia's reputation and competitive advantages, and adding value to the raw products to produce high-value goods.

The committee made several recommendations to take advantage of these opportunities, including a food innovation precinct, protection for native flora, the identification of skill shortages in the industry and support for automation technologies.

I'd like to thank all those who contributed to the inquiry, particularly the many businesses and organisations that hosted the committee at various sites across the country.

These experiences provided valuable evidence of the realities facing the sector.

For instance, the committee visited the Health and Food Sciences Precinct at Coopers Plains in Queensland. The precinct hosts 150 scientists from Queensland's Department of Primary Industries, the CSIRO and the University of Queensland through the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation.

Here, Queensland businesses that design and manufacture food and beverages can use the food pilot plant to develop and test new products that are Safe Food Queensland accredited.

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