[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE - SENATOR CHRISTINE MILNE - Govt treats rural communities with contempt over horticultural code

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, 7 September 2006

Govt treats rural communities with contempt over horticultural code

The federal government has treated rural communities with contempt by
failing to honour a 2004 election pledge to introduce a code of conduct
for dealings between fruit and vegetable growers and the grocery
industry, the Australian Greens said today.

"The government is feeling the heat from growers who are rightly angry
that the government still hasn't implemented this election commitment,"
Greens Senator for Tasmania Christine Milne said in Canberra.

"Government MPs have reportedly raised their concerns about the delay in
the party room but coalition senators, especially those claiming to
represent rural electorates, would not support the Greens' motion today
calling on the government to explain the lengthy delay in introducing a
code of conduct."

Senator Milne's motion was defeated 37 votes to 35. The text of the
motion appears below.
That the Senate-
		(a)	notes that:
					(i)	the Federal Coalition
promised at the 2004 federal election to introduce within 100 days a
mandatory code of conduct to govern dealings between farmers and grocery
buyers, and
					(ii)	on 4 September 2006, the
National Farmers' Federation and the Horticulture Australia Council
stated that the delay in delivering on this pledge is fuelling
speculation that the Government will renege on its promise; and
		(b)	calls on the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry (Mr McGauran) to explain to the parliament why the
Government has not implemented its promise and whether and when it
intends to do so.


Contact: Katrina Willis 03 6234 4566 or 0437 587 562


Katrina Willis
Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
Phone 03 6234 4566
Fax 03 6234 2144
Mobile 0437 587 562
www.christinemilne.org.au