Craig Kelly (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe that the free market is the greatest tool that we have to increase the prosperity, wellbeing and opportunities for all citizens. In many circumstances, government interference in the market makes the problem worse. There are limited areas where government intervention can facilitate the efficient working of the free market—and they include the prevention of coercion, abuse of market power and misleading conduct.

That brings me to the issue of food labelling. Recently, we have recently had Australian consumers infected with hepatitis A from eating contaminated berries. We can ask: how could mixed berries be contaminated by hepatitis A? One way is when raw human sewerage is used as a cheap fertiliser—a practice still used in China today.

I am happy to buy my shoes, clothing and electronics from China but, having travelled extensively there, I can tell you: when it comes to food grown in China, especially berries, I will pass. But how can I pass, if products sold on the market today such as berries have a label saying: 'Packed in Australia from imported fruit.' Imported from where?

The nondisclosure of the country of origin simply reduces market pressure on that country to get in and clean up its act. I appreciate the complexity of some food production, but the nondisclosure of where food is grown is simply misleading conduct and should be captured under our existing laws.