Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—In this document are approximately 46,000 signatures from across the country—from Australians who love seafood but want to know where their seafood is from, how it was caught and exactly what species of fish they are eating. Over 70 per cent of seafood sold in Australia is imported, some from places whose environmental and ethical standards we know nothing about. Our voluntary system of labelling has failed in this country, and it has allowed ready-to-eat seafood that is sold in restaurants to be sold under mysterious names that do not reflect the species of fish or the sustainability of how those fish were caught.

The Greens and others across the country would like to see a proper country-of-origin seafood labelling scheme and laws introduced into this country. Matthew Webb, who is a gourmet farmer, came to Canberra recently and also presented this to Minister Barnaby Joyce. This is a very popular campaign. These petitioners are asking the government to get on and mandate the use of proper fish names and country-of-origin labelling for all seafood sold in Australia.

Petition received.