Dairy Industry Amendment 1974
Aug 13 1974 p390-391
Second Reading
The Hon. T. M. CASEY (Minister of Agriculture) obtained leave and introduced a Bill for an Act to amend the Dairy Industry Act, 1928-1973. Read a first time.
The Hon. T. M. CASEY: I move:
That this Bill be now read a second time.
It is the first of three measures intended to enable a new dairy product “dairy blend” to be lawfully marketed in this State. This new foodstuff, in broad terms, consists of an admixture of milk fat in the form of cream and vegetable oils. The product has the flavour and nutritious value of butter but, because it is easier to spread, it appears likely to have a wide public acceptance.
Honourable members will be aware that for a number of years the legislation of this State and indeed of all the States of Australia has had the effect of prohibiting the addition of vegetable oils to butter. It is in the context of this legislative framework that appropriate amendments must be made to permit the marketing of this product which, incidentally, was developed in the Agriculture Department’s Northfield laboratories. This Bill amends the principal Act (the Dairy Industry Act, l928, as amended). and the contents of this measure can be best considered by an examination of its clauses.
Clause 1 is formal. Clause 2 provides for the Act to come into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation. This clause is most important, as all the amending Bills giving effect to the scheme must necessarily come into operation on the same day. Clause 3 amends section 4 of the principal Act by inserting a definition of “dairy blend”, and I commend this definition to members’ closest attention. So far as possible, the definition of ‘dairy blend” is to be uniform throughout the States of Australia. The manifest advantages of this approach are, I suggest, obvious. In addition, by an amendment to this section, dairy blend is included in the definition of “dairy produce” and, by and large, the provisions of the Act applicable to butter are extended to touch on dairy blend.
In addition, two minor metric amendments are made to this section. Clause 4 amends section 21 of the principal Act by extending the grading provisions relating to butter to include dairy blend. Clause 5 amends section 22 of the principal Act and makes a metric amendment which is self-explanatory. Clause 6 amends section 28 of the principal Act by extending the power to make regulations to cover the dairy blend. Finally, I would indicate that once this product comes on the market it may not necessarily be marketed in the name “dairy blend”: it is likely that the trade name “dairy spread” will be used.
The Hon. C R. STORY secured the adjournment of the debate.
p687 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY August 27, 1974 Dairy Industry Act Amendment Bill 1974
Second Reading
The Hon. J. D. CORCORAN (Minister of Works): I move:
That this Bill be now read a second time.
I seek leave to have the second reading explanation incorporated in Hansard without my reading it.
Mr. Dean Brown: No.
The SPEAKER: Leave is refused. The honourable Minister of Works.
The Hon. J. D. CORCORAN: Once again, we have made arrangements that have been broken. This Bill is the first of three measures intended to enable a new dairy product “dairy blend” to be lawfully marketed in this State. This new foodstuff, in broad terms, consists of an admixture of milk fat in the form of cream and vegetable oils. The product has the flavour and nutritious value of butter but because it is easier to spread it appears likely to have a wide public acceptance.
Members will be aware that for a number of years the legislation of this State and indeed of all the States of Australia has had the effect of prohibiting the addition of vegetable oils to butter. It is in the context of this legislative framework that appropriate amendments must be made to permit the marketing of this product which, incidentally, was developed in the Agriculture Department’s Northfield laboratories. This Bill amends the principal Act, the Dairy Industry Act, 1928, as amended, and the contents of this measure can be best considered by an examination of its clauses. .
Clause 1 is formal. Clause 2 provides for the Act to come into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation. This clause is most important, as all the amending Bills giving effect to the scheme must necessarily come into operation on the same day. Clause 3 amends section 4 of the principal Act by providing for a definition of “dairy blend”, and I would commend this definition to members’ closest attention. So far as possible, the definition of “dairy blend” is to be uniform throughout the States of Australia. The manifest advantages of this approach are, I suggest, obvious. In addition, by an amendment to this section, dairy blend is included in the definition of “dairy produce”, and by and large the provisions of the Act applicable to butter are extended to touch on dairy blend. In addition, two minor metric amendments are made to this section.
Clause 4 amends section 21 of the principal Act by extending the grading provisions relating to butter to include dairy blend. Clause 5 amends section 22 of the principal Act, by providing that the manufacture of dairy blend will be subject to the same limitations on its manufacture as are provided in relation to butter, and also makes a metric amendment which is self-explanatory. Clause 6 amends section 28 of the principal Act by extending the power to make regulations to cover dairy blend. Finally, I would indicate that once this product comes on the market it may not necessarily be marketed in the name “dairy blend”. It is likely that the trade name “dairy spread” will be used.
Mr. DEAN BROWN secured the adjournment of the debate.