HEALTH Minister Peter Dutton is facing a backbench revolt with demands he dump proposed packaging requirements that use a star system to show the nutritional value of food. Mr Dutton will meet with his state colleagues today as part of the Council of Australian Governments process, with separate discussions on food regulation also scheduled to…
Nationals Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie has called on the Greens and Labor to show their support for Australian agriculture and support the repeal of the carbon tax. Senator McKenzie asked Finance Minister Senator Mathias Cormann, who was representing Environment Minister Greg Hunt in the Senate, about the effects of the carbon tax on agribusinesses today…
Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie has welcomed the announcement of a special high-level taskforce to investigate assistance for SPC Ardmona by Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane this morning. The panel comprises Ms Catherine Livingstone AO, Mr Richard (Dick) Warburton AO LVO and the Hon Greg Combet AM. The taskforce, which has already met, will provide…
Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie says the proposed front of pack labelling scheme developed under Labor does not give a true depiction of a product’s health benefits and is not based on evidence of behavioural change. During Senate estimates this week, Senator McKenzie’s questioning revealed the flawed application and assumptions of the front of…
Nationals Queensland Senator Ron Boswell and Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie yesterday raised concerns about the future of Licensed Post Offices at The Nationals party room meeting in Canberra. Senator Boswell also raised the issue with Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the joint party room meeting and will meet with the Minister on Thursday. Senator Boswell…
REGIONAL Victorians will benefit from a withdrawal of the carbon tax. -That was the message Nationals Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie, had while visiting Wangaratta last week. Ms McKenzie said she would be supporting legislation, to be introduced by the Coalition next month, to repeal the tax “in an effort to restore security to local…
Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie said a Productivity Commission hearing held in Melbourne today as part of its inquiry into processed fruit imports reinforced the need for emergency safeguards. Senator McKenzie attended the hearing, after making written submissions to the Commission earlier this year. Representatives from the City of Greater Shepparton and Member…
Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie will today visit Charles Sturt University and GO TAFE in Wangaratta with state Nationals member for Murray Valley Tim McCurdy. The two education providers have partnered to offer agricultural education study options where students can advance from Certificate III to degrees in agriculture and agribusiness. Degrees in nursing,…
The Productivity Commission’s public hearing in Melbourne on October 28 will provide key players a chance to respond to an interim report which found that SPC Ardmona’s application for emergency assistance was not warranted. The outcome was disappointing, but not surprising. Since the Agreement on Safeguards was established in 1994, only one Australian application for…
Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie says troubled Goulburn Valley fruit processor SPC Ardmona faces an uncertain future if no action is taken to support the company. Senator McKenzie said the recently released interim report from the Productivity Commission which found emergency safeguards were not warranted, was not surprising. ‘‘Even so, safeguards are a legitimate…