20/09/2011 (ISRIA) - Trade Minister, Craig Emerson, has welcomed the Federal Opposition's decision to join with the Gillard Government in rejecting a Private Member's Bill that would cost Australian industry an estimated AUD 150 million and breach Australia's World Trade Organization obligations.

Opposition members of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics have recommended the Coalition not support the Food Standards Amendment (Truth in Labelling – Palm Oil) Bill 2010 on the basis that the legislation would require the active sponsorship and facilitation by the Government – which the Government is unwilling to provide.

“This is a victory for commonsense, for Australian food processing and for the Gillard Government, which takes its obligations under the world trading rules seriously,” Dr Emerson said.

“In the Senate the Coalition opportunistically reversed its opposition to the Bill as expressed in a majority Senate committee report, voted for it and indicated it would push it through the House of Representatives.

“Now it has reversed its reversal to put it back where it was many months ago.”

Dr Emerson thanked Coalition members of the House of Representatives Economics Committee for resisting the pressure placed on them by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to support the Bill.

“Maybe those members of the Liberal Party who believe in good policy are getting their mojo back,” Dr Emerson said.

http://www.trademinister.gov.au/releases/2011/ce_mr_110919.html