Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Disability and Carers) Share this | Hansard source

Labor will not be supporting Senator Leyonhjelm's amendments to the Imported Food Control Amendment Bill 2017. The bill before the Senate is seeking to strengthen the current system, to provide more flexible and targeted ways to prevent and respond to food safety risks, to better protect the health of consumers. Senator Leyonhjelm's amendments seek to omit the term 'strict liability' and to reduce penalty units in the current bill. Labor does not support these amendments and believes that those who undertake the proper procedures for the importation of food products will better protect the health of Australian consumers, and those who commit offences should face tougher penalties.