Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I see it as enhancing the process. I see it as sending a clear message to government and to bureaucracy. I want to make this very clear: I have great respect for Senator McLucas and the work she has done on this, but Senator McLucas should understand my frustration, the frustration of Senators Siewert and Bob Brown and the frustration of members in the coalition who have been campaigning on this as well for a number of years. We need to get on with it. I must say that Neal Blewett is a great Australian, and I have enormous regard for him, but I was disappointed with many parts of the review. I felt that it could have gone further, but the government is working through that; I understand. But how much longer does it have to work through on things? The Commonwealth clearly has a leadership role here, and I acknowledge the leadership role that Senator McLucas has had on this, but I do not see this as in any way impeding the process of further food labelling; in fact I see it as enhancing it.

I think we also need to stand up to the Australian Food and Grocery Council. Just last night on Lateline we heard a number of leading public health experts, including the government's Preventative Health Taskforce chair, Professor Rob Moodie, being quite scathing of the Australian Food and Grocery Council and its influence in public debate on a whole range of measures in terms of dietary issues. I think Senator McLucas is aware of those particular concerns—that the Food and Grocery Council has too much government influence and is delaying effective action against diet related diseases. I see this bill as enhancing the process.

I think Senator McLucas knows how I work with the government and how I worked with Minister O'Connor and other parts of the government, including the Prime Minister's office on the flood levy. I am happy to work cooperatively with people, but if you treated good ideas dismissively then I felt the only thing I could do was to enter into substantial negotiations with the coalition, and they have borne fruit. So I see this as enhancing the process. I see it as speeding up good food-labelling laws, which I think that Senator McLucas will welcome given her long-term advocacy on this.