Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm really excited about the industry I'm celebrating today, so let's get cracking. This Friday, 11 October, is World Egg Day, and I'm giving a shout-out to our 'egg-ceptional' Australian egg industry and the farmers associated with that great product. Aussie egg farmers produce 18.9 million eggs each day. That's an 'eggs-traordinary' 6.68 billion eggs every single year.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm hearing laughs around the chamber. Thank you for that. Per capita egg consumption grew from 262 eggs in 2021-22 to 263 eggs in 2022-23, with an average egg weighing around 58 grams. This equates to 15 kilograms of eggs per person per year. The people in the gallery are probably wondering, 'Really, am I eating that many eggs?'

There are three main egg-farming systems used in Australia: free-range, caged and barn-laid. Free-range egg production has grown significantly over the last 15 years and now accounts for 56 per cent of all grocery retail sales. However, there remains very strong demand for caged and barn-laid eggs as an affordable source of high-protein product that everyone can enjoy all year round. The industry benefits our economy, or 'egg-onomy', to the value of $1.8 billion each year, and it's a figure we simply can't 'egg-nore'.

Honourable senators interjecting—

My team was worried about my delivery of this speech. They don't really think I'm that extremely funny!

But this year's World Egg Day theme is United by Eggs, which is appropriate because eggs are a staple in the lives of many Australians—and we would have seen that throughout COVID. Eggs are found in cultures and cuisines across the world. Boiled, scrambled, poached, fried or even baked—whichever way you might have them—there are many ways we consume our eggs here in Australia. From omelettes and quiches to frittatas and cakes, they form the basis of many 'egg-cellent' dishes.

Let me explain why they're so good. An average egg contains 74 calories. They are packed with protein and 13 essential vitamins and minerals. In addition to the nutritional benefits, egg production has one of the lowest carbon footprints of any food protein. One of the largest contributors to our wonderful egg sector is my home state—and yours, Senator McKenzie—of Victoria. We have many wonderful egg and chicken producers right across the state.

On a serious note, to mark World Egg Day 2024, I'm 'egging' you all on. Let's say thanks to our 'eggs-tra' special egg farmers, who supply our homes, shops, factories, restaurants and hospitality sector with fresh eggs all year round. I know there are also many who are currently experiencing challenges this year, with outbreaks of influenza. I want to say: good luck, enjoy the year and I look forward to supporting our wonderful egg industry right across the country.