Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.  In a pre-election statement released on 1 October 2004, the then National Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, gave horticulturalists a promise that a coalition government would, within 100 days of being re-elected, introduce a legislative mandatory code of conduct covering all sales transactions within the fruit and vegetable industry. This statement specifically included large supermarket chains. Is the minister aware that it is now 620 days since the election? Is the minister further aware that, according to the ABS report prepared for the fair trading inquiry, Woolworths and Coles now have 77 per cent of the retail market? Since it is public knowledge that the draft proposals, in direct contravention of this express election promise, have excluded the retail chains, could the minister advise the House: (1) is it the intention of the National Party to honour their specific promise to horticulturalists and small retailers to introduce a mandatory code? (2) If so, will the code cover all parties, including the large supermarket chains, as promised? (3) When will the code be introduced?

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Kennedy will conclude his question.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I have one sentence to go. Finally, if, as is asserted, the major retail chains already subscribe and adhere to a voluntary code, could the minister explain why they should then object to become part of a mandatory code?

Peter McGauran (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. I fully appreciate his vital interest in the code of conduct, as do so many members on my own side of the House. The honourable member will appreciate the complexity of the issues surrounding the introduction of a code and the need to avoid unforeseen consequences to the detriment of growers and others throughout the whole of the supply chain. I can advise the honourable member and the House that discussions are not concluded and are continuing.