Power Simon: Animal Products (Dairy Products and Other Matters) Bill — Second Reading 
Power Simon: Animal Products (Dairy Products and Other Matters) Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:624;Page:19014] 
SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) 
: 
 I wish to take a short call to wind up the discussion on the Animal Products (Dairy Products and Other Matters) Bill. Much of the detail has been canvassed by my very able and competent colleagues from the Primary Production Committee the Hon David Carter and Phil Heatley both here and in the work they did with the committee. 
Essentially this legislation grapples with the complex issue of food safety and in particular with how that issue relates to global marketplaces. Until now the particular regulation of the dairy industry has been dealt with by the Dairy Industry Act of 1952 legislation that if I am correct came in at about the time Harry Truman was President of the United States. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: I remember it well. 
SIMON POWER 
: The Hon Ken Shirley remembers it well. I wish I could but I say to him that it was probably a bit before my time. However when put in those terms it is clear just how old the industry’s dominant and governing piece of legislation is. It was necessary legislation for the Primary Production Committee to consider. It was important that regulation around food safety and dairy products was updated not only to the 1960s but more particularly to a new century. Of course at the time the original legislation governing the dairy industry was enacted we lived in a very different and protectionist period. I see Ian Ewen-Street looking back on those days fondly wishing that Harry Truman was still President of the United States and that it was still 1952. But time moves on. 
This legislation is designed to capture broadly the global perspective that is necessary for those markets to operate efficiently and more particularly to recognise that some legislation and regulation around food safety is necessary. I must say that I found the Green member’s head versus heart contribution to the debate— 
Phil Heatley 
: Moving. 
SIMON POWER 
: I would not go quite as far as that. I think that the Green member knows what is right and I would be very surprised indeed if the Greens did not vote for this legislation given their particular—and I choose a kind word—“obsession” with food safety. One had only to tune into question time today to see exactly how concerned the Greens are about these issues. 
The fact that the dairy industry will now have its produce covered by legislation such as this means that it is important legislation for the House to recognise. Although it is worth noting in the commentary as my colleague Phil Heatley pointed out that “while consultation would provide checks and balances” to the New Zealand Food Safety Authority we consider perhaps that it is not practical to consult on all market access requirements. Part of that is because the turn-round time on that consultation may result in lags and hold-ups. In a truly global market taking advantage of those offshore markets in a quick and efficient way would not be possible with those levels of consultation holding matters up. In fact it could be seen—I guess in a miniature way—as a sort of Resource Management Act of the dairy industry. Part of this is important but being fleet of foot and being able to access those international markets at short notice is perhaps even more important. This legislation whilst referring to the consultation as checks and balances I think provides the necessary framework for that market agility to occur at the point at which we want to access those markets. We would find ourselves in some difficulty frankly if we did not have a bit of flexibility around those types of hurdles before accessing the markets where negotiations were otherwise confidential or restricted. 
I do not have a great deal more to add other than to reiterate my main point which is that the previous legislation governing the dairy industry in 1952 was current when Harry Truman was President and it is time to move on. It is time for a new legislative framework— 
Hon David Carter 
: A great man. 
SIMON POWER 
: He was a great man in many ways—even for a Democrat. In fact history has remembered him better than his contemporaries have. But this is not a discussion about Harry Truman; it is a discussion about this dairy industry legislation. I just say this: the time is right and I believe that this House will support this legislation in a way that shows that every party in this Parliament understands the importance of international markets global access and being able to be fleet of foot when making decisions meeting the food safety requirements and getting our goods into those markets to benefit this economy.