Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I am sorry to prolong the debate, Mr Temporary Chairman. I will accept the apology that Senator Brown made earlier in his contribution, for recently joining the debate. I accept your apology for ignoring it for almost your entire parliamentary career, Senator Brown. Julia Gillard has not. Julia Gillard has been talking about this for a number of years. Julia Gillard, on behalf of the Labor Party, has been talking about it with the state health ministers for a number of years. She is not a Johnny-come-lately who has to come in here and apologise like you have, because you have only just noticed the problem.

So I just want to make it absolutely clear, again, that Labor take this issue very seriously. We do not need to come wandering in here, in the twilight of our political career, and say, ‘I’ve suddenly discovered this issue.’ Julia Gillard and Labor have long held discussions and made thoughtful contributions on this debate and we are involved very seriously with the state health ministers in developing policies around this issue. You have suddenly discovered it and moved amendments which give ridiculous powers to a minister, the sorts of powers that nobody would ever want to give to a minister, as Senator Murray said—deciding whether a Tim Tam or a Milk Arrowroot constitutes a dangerous food to be removed from a tuckshop. We want to see a serious contribution to this debate, Senator Brown, not an apology for the fact that you have not noticed it for most of your political career.