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Bob Cameron - Mutton Dressed As Lamb

Victorians will be at risk of meat substitution with the Bracks Government’s proposed changes to the meat labelling regulations, Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis said today.

By Philip Davis - 1st March 2005 - Back to News

The Department of Primary Industries has released a Regulatory Impact Statement for the Meat Industry Regulations 2005, which includes plans to phase out regulations relating to specific branding of lamb, two-tooth and kid meat.

Mr Davis said the Liberal Party and the Victorian Farmers Federation held grave concerns that without the current branding procedures Victorian consumers could be subject to meat substitution.

"Carcass strip branding is there for a purpose, it differentiates between classes of meat," Mr Davis said.

"If this requirement is phased out, as the Bracks Government proposes, we will have mutton substituted for lamb like we saw back in the 1980s with the scandal of the export meat substitution rackets.

"Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron must be lost somewhere in the back paddock – what is he doing?"

Mr Davis said the Minister was hell-bent on sending Victoria back to the dark ages with his archaic policies.

"These labelling regulations were implemented for a reason and the process has been working," he said.

"Not only will these changes put the Victorian meat industry behind other states they will seriously damage the negotiations between Victoria and other states in the development of a national system for lamb branding.

"Is Bob Cameron himself mutton dressed up as lamb? It beggars belief why any responsible Minister would allow such a backward step."

Mr Davis said consumers deserved to know exactly what they were purchasing.

"Consumer confidence in Victorian red meat has been rejuvenated in recent years, but changes to the labelling requirements could undo this work in one fell swoop," he said.

"I call on the Agriculture Minister to consult with the livestock industry about the proposed changes and discuss alternatives.

"With lamb prices the way they are, the lamb brand is the most valuable brand.

"The Bracks Government must act to protect an important industry sector from corruption."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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