List of Recommendations
Recommendation
1
2.41 The committee recommends that all state and territory
governments develop a definitive timeframe for the Council of Australian
Governments reform agenda for a National Seamless Economy and actively engage
to ensure that momentum for implementation of the reforms is maintained. In
particular, the committee urges participants to ensure movement on the
integrated transport reforms, including reforms to the heavy vehicle
registration process.
Recommendation 2
2.42 The committee recommends that the government expedite those
recommendations of the Deegan Report which have not been rejected to position
Tasmania to have access to a globally competitive freight system.
Recommendation 3
2.62 The committee recommends that
following the introduction of the carbon price on 1 July 2012, the government
monitor:
- how the big
emitters pass on the costs into the food supply chain; and
- the
profitability of businesses in that supply chain, including to farm gate.
Recommendation 4
3.120 The committee
recommends that the government initiate an independent review of the
competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The
committee recommends that the review should include consideration of:
- the misuse of
market power;
- creeping
acquisitions;
- predatory
pricing; and
- unconscionable
conduct.
Recommendation 5
3.121 The committee recommends that the review of the CCA
consider the inclusion of the functions of a food supply chain ombudsman within
the ongoing role of the ACCC.
Recommendation 6
3.123 The committee recommends that the major supermarkets
in Australia voluntarily compile and establish benchmarks within their
corporate social responsibility documents to measure the level of satisfaction
of their suppliers in dealing with the supermarkets. External agencies should
be engaged to conduct regular supplier satisfaction surveys, the results of
which should be publicised by the supermarkets in their regular reporting
cycles.
Recommendation 7
4.88 The committee
recommends that the government expand the application of food labelling
requirements to require all primary food products for retail sale to display
their country of origin, in accordance with recommendation 40 of the Blewett
Review.
Recommendation 8
4.97 The committee
recommends that the government reform country of origin labelling requirements
for food so that these requirements are clearer, more transparent and focus on
the consumer's understanding.
Recommendation 9
4.100 The committee
recommends that, as part of the review of the Competition and Consumer Act
2010 (Cth) recommended in Recommendation 12, government should specifically
consider whether the 'safe haven' provisions in section 255 are sufficiently
focussed on the consumer's understanding of country of origin claims on food
products.
Recommendation 10
4.101 The committee
recommends that the government consult with industry about the use of the term
'defining ingredient' as a method of determining the country of origin of a
product.
Recommendation 11
4.106 The committee
recommends that industry and government investigate the potential use of smart
phone and barcode technology to provide additional information about the
country of origin of food products.
Recommendation 12
4.111 The committee
recommends that the government move mandatory country of origin labelling
requirements for food to a specific consumer product information standard under
the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, consistent with recommendation 41
of the Blewett Review.
Recommendation 13
4.122 The committee
recommends that, when presented with direct evidence, the Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission investigate claims that country of origin
labels on processed foods imported into Australia under free trade agreements
and other international agreements are misleading and/or deceptive.
Recommendation 14
5.24 The committee
recommends government develop a strategic focus on developing access to export
markets for the food industry and facilitate an affordable cost environment for
industry to access these markets.
Recommendation 15
5.47 The committee
recommends that the government take the lead in pursuing a more
appropriate level of mutual recognition of commercial and regulatory standards
and audit outcomes, possibly through the use of the Global Food Safety
Initiative standards benchmarking process.
Recommendation 16
5.54 The committee
recommends that industry and DAFF Biosecurity consider establishing a forum in
which they can meet to discuss and resolve factors that inhibit export market
access, growth and development.
Recommendation 17
5.62 The committee
recommends that the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References
Committee examine the new biosecurity legislation to assess whether it will
appropriately address the problems of different standards applying to imported
and domestic products and consider monitoring the implementation of relevant
measures.
Recommendation 18
6.56 Tertiary and
higher education providers should engage more directly with food processing
businesses about curricula and outcomes to ensure that the skills developed
through further education better match those required by industry.
Recommendation 19
6.61 The committee
recommends that the government consider, in consultation with State and
territory governments and industry, expanding existing programs promoting the
study of, and career paths in, science to include food science and technology.
Recommendation 20
6.63 The National
Food Plan should explicitly deal with the labour supply issues facing
Australia's food processing sector.
Recommendation 21
6.65 The committee
recommends that the government encourage and assist the agricultural and food
processing industry in setting up a peak council of industry bodies so that the
industry may, amongst other things, more effectively engage with primary,
secondary, tertiary and higher education providers about potential career paths
in the agrifood sector.
Recommendation 22
6.89 The committee
recommends that the government continue to promote and investigate partnerships
and programs that connect recently arrived migrants and international workers
to jobs in the food processing sector, particularly to jobs in rural and
regional centres.
Recommendation 23
6.91 The committee
recommends that the government investigate the possibility of extending the
class of employers able to access the Seasonal Worker Program to include
employers in the food processing sector.
Recommendation 24
6.93 The committee
recommends that the government investigate whether the skills recognition
frameworks used for skilled migration programs, such as the Australia and New
Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations code system, are appropriately
recognising food processing skills and qualifications.
Recommendation 25
6.95 The committee
recommends that the government require the officers responsible for assessing
457 Visa applications for the food processing sector to have specific knowledge
of the sector, its requirements, and the markets within which it operates.
Recommendation 26
6.122 The committee
recommends that the government review the flexibility provisions under both the
Fair Work Act 2009 and modern awards, with a view to increasing the
ability of employers and employees to negotiate flexible working arrangements,
particularly with respect to penalty rates, split shifts and minimum hours for
seasonal industries.
Recommendation
27
7.79 The committee
recommends that the government investigate the effectiveness of research and
development in the food processing sector and in doing so consider the
following questions:
- has been a market failure of research and development in
the food processing sector?
- are food processors relying on research and development
conducted by primary producers?
- is there scope to develop a cooperative research and
development approach in the food processing sector similar to rural research
and development corporations?
- do the current arrangements for research and development
funding support equity of access, particularly for small and medium
enterprises?
Recommendation 28
7.80 The committee
recommends that the government consider providing research and development
assistance specific to the food processing sector.
Recommendation 29
7.81 The committee recommends that the government reviews tax
and regulatory settings to support innovation.
Recommendation 30
7.82 The committee acknowledges the establishment of the
Food Processing Industry Strategy Group and encourages its active engagement of
leading food manufacturing and processing companies to encourage large scale
investment in food manufacturing in Australia.
Recommendation 31
7.83 The committee
recommends that the government review the funding it has allocated for research
and development in the Australian food processing sector.
Recommendation 32
8.60 The committee
recommends the government place a stronger focus on development of markets and
assistance for market access in a much more costs effective way for developing
business.
Recommendation 33
8.61 The committee
recommends that the government prioritise completion of trade agreements,
noting those currently being negotiated particularly in the Asia–Pacific
region.
Recommendation
34
8.62 The committee recommends that the government continue to
lobby for the reduction of tariff, non-tariff barriers and subsidies in export
destinations through the World Trade Organisation. Pending the passing of the
US Farm Bill this year, the government should consider the immediate and
ongoing level and impact of these assistance packages.
Recommendation 35
8.63 The committee
recommends that a Brand Australia program be considered to assess its
effectiveness in promoting the food and grocery sector. In addition, the
committee recommends that a campaign be developed promoting Australian food and
grocery products overseas based on their unique provenance, premium quality,
assured safety and environmental sustainability.
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