Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Furner for his first supplementary question. The National Food Plan will provide us with a strategic road map to deliver for the food supply chain throughout Australia. I can inform the Senate that the Gillard government has announced that it will now develop Australia's first National Food Plan through a green paper-white paper process, creating a National Food Plan white paper. This sends a clear message to industry and to the community of the importance and seriousness of food related issues in the economy and our society. A white paper demonstrates that the Gillard government has a genuine commitment to this critical area of future policy development. Overall, the green paper-white paper process will ensure that our first National Flood Plan continues to have whole-of-government support and the attention that the issue requires. It will provide a significant strategic policy statement that acts as a platform for better outcomes for our food sector and Australian consumers now and into the future. (Time expired)