Senator BROWN (11:07 AM) —So the Greens stand alone on this—but I would again point out that what we are standing for is the public interest. There is provision on this board for a representation by big business, which is new, which is going to be powerful and influential and which represents not just the food industry and small business but also international trade and the multinational corporations. This is the opportunity to stop that influence from getting in there. Senator Tambling used the word `paranoia'—and I forget what the other one was but I know he meant them in a positive sense, if my imagination can extend that far. But the reality is that we have a choice here between the big industry representatives, whose motive, Senator Tambling, is profit, and the consumer interests, whose motive is public health and safety.

Insofar as even the Democrat and Labor amendments go, they allow what was previously a board devoted to the public interest to now become a board subject to the interests of the big end of town and the profit motive. I think that is the wrong way to go. The Greens believe that the previous tenor and make-up of the board for the consumers was the right one. The concession to big business is not a good one. They have enormous lobbying ability on the outcome of policy in both Canberra and Wellington anyway. This particular legislation is about food and it is about consumers' right to know that the law will be wholly on their side. That is why I stand by this amendment. I am sorry that the Democrats and the Labor Party are not supporting it.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Senator Sherry)—The question is that Greens amendment (2) to Democrat amendment (14) be agreed to.

Question resolved in the negative.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN —The question is that Democrat amendment (14), as amended, be agreed to.

Question resolved in the affirmative.