The Albanese Government appears to have blown $1.5 million on researching - yet again - whether consumers are being misled by vegan food labels using words like beef and pictures of livestock.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Beef producers are furious that the European Union has been able to come up with a ban on the use of words like burger to describe plant-based food before Australia.
Despite Labor's election promises to act on a senate inquiry into the issue which recommended laws to ban the practice of using meat terms to describe food that has no meat in it, no genuine steps towards that end have been made.
Instead, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand was commissioned to undertake research into consumer confusion to inform potential approaches.
The research is due to be published any day now and the federal government has already said even more engagement with representatives from all sides of the debate will come.
For beef producers and Queensland senator Susan McDonald, who led the 2022 Don't Mince Words: Definitions of Meat and Other Animal Products senate inquiry, the seemingly endless consultation is beyond frustrating.
This month, the European Parliament voted to ban the use of words like burger, steak and bacon to describe plant-based food.
The proposal still needs the backing of the European Commission - the EU's executive arm - as well as the governments of member countries to become law but it is being heralded by EU beef industry representatives as a major win.
Celine Imart, the French member of the parliament who led the initiative, was widely quoted in overseas media as saying: "Let's call a spade a spade."
Ms McDonald said it beggared belief that the EU - a region pushing deforestation regulations and talking about penalising farmers for nitrogen use - could get the job done on meat definitions before Australia, where beef underpinned so many livelihoods.
Beef industry insiders tip the FSANZ research will find there is no way forward on regulation given 'hold-out' groups refuse to walk away from the right to market their products by riding on the back of beef.
Ms McDonald said that was a farce, given consumers have been giving clear feedback about their desire for accuracy and transparency in food labelling for years.
"This blockage is coming from people who want to see the complete shut down of animal production for human consumption - why are we giving any time to that?" she said.
She said extensive consultation from all stakeholders occurred during the senate inquiry, a finding was reached and the time to set the wheels in motion on the recommendations was long overdue.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins did not respond to requests for comment, however a spokesperson from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry provided this statement: "The Australian Government remains committed to improving existing arrangements for the labelling of plant-based proteins, and continues to consult with industry on potential actions."
Shan Goodwin
Shan has worked as a journalist for 30 years, the majority of that with agricultural publications.
She spent many years as The Land’s North Coast reporter and has visited beef properties and stations throughout the country and overseas.
She treats all breeds equally. Contact 0427686187. E: s.goodwin@austcommunitymedia.com.au
