Mr TRUSS (Customs and Consumer Affairs) (1:42 PM) —in reply—I thank the honourable members who have contributed to this debate. We are anxious to move on to the consideration in detail stage so that members can contribute in the limited time available. I would like to thank those who have actively campaigned for this bill over a very long time. I make particular reference to the member for Mallee (Mr Forrest) who, as he said, has been particularly forthright in pursuing especially the concerns of farmers in his own electorate who have wanted truthfulness and honesty in country of origin labelling. I am pleased that this legislation will in fact deliver certainty in the labelling of what can be called Product of Australia; namely, something that is 100 per cent Australian or as near to it as possible, and what can be called Made in Australia, that is, a product which must be substantially transformed in this country and of which the majority of the cost of production is incurred in Australia.

These, I think, are important measures which will provide certainty to consumers. When they want to buy something that is Australian and the labels claim it to be Australian they will know after this legislation has been enacted that it is indeed Australian. It will also provide certainty to manufacturers whose confidence in the system has been damaged as a result of a number of seemingly conflicting court cases which have meant that people do not know when they can use descriptions like Made in Australia. It will also reinvigorate the Australian Made logo and clarify the circumstances under which it can be used. The legislation will give confidence to industry and to consumers that the claims about country of origin labelling can be relied upon. I commend the legislation to the House and I trust it will be given speedy passage also through the other chamber.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill read a second time.