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

I thank both the government and the opposition for their contributions. To clarify: Margaret River is a renowned winegrowing region. I still maintain my position that South Australian wines are the best, but I can disclose that, whilst I normally only buy South Australian wines, I did buy a Margaret River wine called Devil's Lair to give to Senator Heffernan, which he appreciated.

The point being missed here is that the issue of counterfeiting of Australian wines, particularly in some of the emerging markets, can have a potentially devastating effect on the integrity of our wine industry. This amendment does not say, 'You must take these steps in relation to counterfeiting.' It asks, 'What will you be doing in relation to this?' I do not think it dictates activity, as the Winemakers Federation suggests. If you look at the role and mission of Wine Australia, its core responsibilities include export regulation and compliance and domestic and international wine promotion. On the basis of those two areas alone, what could be more important than ensuring the ongoing promotion of our wines overseas than to ensure the integrity of the labels and their protection from counterfeiting?

When you consider the legislative framework, section 3 of the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation Act states the objects of the act:

(a) to promote and control the export of grape products from Australia; and

(b) to promote and control the sale and distribution, after export, of Australian grape products;

It also gives the promoting of trade and commerce in grape products. I would have thought that this proposal is entirely consistent with that.

I understand what the government and the opposition are saying, but I would like the government and the opposition to indicate, given that they acknowledge the problem of counterfeiting of Australian wines, particularly in overseas markets, whether they are generally supportive, without being locked into the wording of the amendment, of the need for a Senate committee inquiry into this area so that these issues of intellectual property and the like are at least ventilated.