Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move opposition amendments (1) and (3) on sheet 6195 together:

(1)    Clause 3, page 3 (after line 21), after the definition of Deputy Chair, insert:

industry representative means a person who the Minister is satisfied has high level industry or commercial expertise in manufacture, distribution or marketing of food or beverages, including of alcoholic beverages.

(3)    Clause 29, page 15 (line 13), at the end of the clause, add:

   ; and (d)    at least one, but no more than 2, members who are industry representatives; and

             (e)    at least one, but no more than 2, other members representing consumers or consumer health organisations.

This relates to the need for broad representation on the advisory council. Whilst the explanatory memorandum has acknowledged that the advisory council could include industry representation, I would like to pick up that point at page 3 in the memorandum. It says:

Whilst not specified in the Bill, such expertise may include public administration, business/employer groups, education, inter-sectoral collaboration, sports and recreation, preventive health including health promotion, community and non-government organisations, consumer issues—

as opposed to specific consumer health organisations—

social inclusion and disadvantage (including Indigenous Australians), local government, legal/regulatory, and finance.

The opposition is concerned that, if we are talking about preventative health, it is important that we do have the right representation on that advisory council. We believe it is important, if we are going to get good outcomes in preventative health, that we have to have the specific focus that actually does go to preventative health. For this reason we believe we do have to have representation from industry representatives and we also have to have representation from consumer health organisations. We think that by working with industry and preventative health experts we will get these outcomes. That is why we have specified in the amendment proposed to clause 29 that there should be at least one, but no more than two, members who are industry representatives and at least one, but no more than two, other members representing consumers or consumer health organisations. It is important that the council has broad representation. Clause 29 talks about membership and says the advisory council is to consist of:

(a)

one member representing the Commonwealth; and

(b)

at least one member, but no more than 2 members, representing the governments of the States and Territories; and

(c)

at least 5, but not more than 8, other members with expertise relating to preventive health.

That is where we would like to add these other two categories which specifically home in on the industry representatives and other members representing consumer or consumer health organisations. We think that this will ensure that the advisory council has broad representation from government, health experts and industry and consumer groups to ensure we have a balanced approach to preventative health. I commend those two amendments to the chamber.