Lainie Anderson: A fishy stench around Parliament’s seafood labelling decision
AT a time of economic gloom and job losses, you’d think we’d pounce on any initiative to boost Australian industry.
Makes you wonder why both major parties recently voted against a proposal to introduce country-of-origin labelling for seafood served in restaurants and pubs.
The proposed legislation was co-sponsored by independent senator Nick Xenophon and Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson after a bipartisan Senate committee recommended its adoption. So why was the move stymied?
A spokesman for Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane says the government is initiating major reforms to country-of-origin food labelling in the retail sector, with a commitment to review the scheme after two years. Only then might reforms be considered for the services sector.
Sorry, but a delay in “consideration” of seafood labelling in restaurants just doesn’t stack up.
It’s nearly a decade since supermarkets and fresh fish shops were forced to identify the origin of seafood — a move hailed as generating investment and jobs. But restaurants, cafes, pubs and takeaway shops remain exempt from the labelling code.
So we have an absurd situation where labelling is enforced to the kitchen door of a restaurant, but there’s no requirement to pass the information on to diners.
That’s failing consumers, who often mistakenly assume iconic seafood like prawns and barramundi is caught locally when, in fact, 70 per cent of our seafood is now imported.
It’s undermining tourism campaigns such as Restaurant Australia, where we “invite the world for dinner” but often serve inferior imported seafood.
And it’s curbing the potential of our seafood and aquaculture industry and the jobs that would result from greater support and demand.
Australian Prawn Farmers Association executive officer Helen Jenkins told a recent Senate committee that better labelling in restaurants could boost the farmed prawn sector seventeen-fold and increase jobs from 300 to 5000.
Former Port Lincoln fisherman and now Aquaculture Council of WA vice-chairman Steven Davies says the industry is disappointed by the recent Senate “no” vote and the lack of support is baffling.
“All we’re seeking is an opportunity for consumers to make a clear and informed choice when they’re eating seafood off the menu,” Mr Davies says.
His comments are echoed by SA Rock Lobster Advisory Council executive officer Justin Phillips.
“The great irony is that Australian governments are rightly striving to ensure the ongoing sustainability of our seafood industry,” he says, “But change is required to help promote our produce ahead of imported seafood that’s often harvested unsustainably offshore.”
The lack of national support is even more bewildering given the Northern Territory has had seafood labelling in restaurants for six years, to great effect.
Consumer surveys in the Top End show that locals and tourists will pay a premium for Australian seafood such as barramundi, with one pub owner telling the Senate committee that 80 per cent of barramundi served was Australian despite being 50 per cent more expensive.
The food services industry (restaurants, pubs and clubs) says downsides to labelling include greater compliance and administration costs such as printing new menus.
They say our fisheries are already at sustainable levels, so labelling changes won’t result in more Aussie fish on the menu.
Industry chiefs like Steven Davies beg to differ, saying “there’s plenty of capacity for sustainable growth within the Australian seafood industry”.
South Australian Fisheries Minister Leon Bignell agrees and, in the wake of the failed Senate vote, he’s asked Primary Industries Resources South Australia (PIRSA) to assess the options for considering labelling here.
“A national approach would have been my preference ... some restaurants, pubs and cafes are getting away with serving up below average seafood and passing it off as premium produce from our pristine waters,” he says.
“Given SA provides a large amount of the nation’s catch, our fishing sector would have been a huge winner.”
Welcome news for SA fisheries and diners, but we need national action, too.
Right now, diners are entitled to ask “where’s the catch”? So let’s get on with it.
AND ANOTHER THING ...
■ Treasurer Joe Hockey has been criticised for leading a renewed push for Australia to become a republic, with opponents saying he should focus on the economy and jobs growth. That’s true to a point, and it’s also probably correct that many Australians won’t abide a move to a republic while Queen Elizabeth remains at the helm. But in the next few days the Queen will become Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and who knows what she might decide to do after reaching such a milestone. She’s 90 next year, after all. A new monarch is inevitable within the next decade, which makes now the perfect time for political leaders such as Mr Hockey to start a mature bipartisan discussion on what comes next for Australia, when the Queen’s reign ends.
■ Been super-impressed by the increasing army of kids entering the Royal Adelaide Show cookery competition. From my own second prize a few years back (layer cake, decorated, any occasion — and admittedly there were only three entries) I know what an exhilarating ride it can be. If you rate yourself in the kitchen, start planning for next year.
Source: Adelaide Now / Sunday Mail (SA), Lainie Anderson, 5th September 2015
Originally published as: Lainie Anderson: A fishy stench around Parliament’s seafood labelling decision
