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Monday, 22 September 1997
Page: 6617


Senator MARGETTS(8.48 p.m.) —The minister has been quite provocative tonight. I would just like to mention that ministers can negotiate down what standards the parliament sets. This has been illustrated by the agreement on the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council. We are actually presented with a negotiating down fait accompli, to a certain extent. It has happened already. You are saying, `Trust us, we're the government. We wouldn't put up with a standard that is lower.' You have done it already.