Foreword

Australian food and beverages are among the best in the world. Australian food and beverage manufacturers use top-quality raw products from Australian farms to make world-class goods that are prized both domestically and abroad.

This inquiry complements the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture’s Australian Food Story: Feeding the Nation and Beyond report. That report examined how Australia’s food security could be strengthened and safeguarded, with a focus on the agricultural, pre-farm gate side of food production. This inquiry looked at the next step, examining the post-farm gate manufacturing side of food production and the opportunities for expanding innovation and adding value.

In response to the evidence received throughout the inquiry, the Committee developed twenty-three recommendations to support the Australian food and beverage manufacturing sector.

Stakeholders told the Committee that the lack of a national and consistent direction on food policy was a problem for the industry. The policies, regulations and plans that support Australia’s food system across the country can conflict or contradict each other. The Committee’s first recommendation reiterates the Standing Committee on Agriculture’s Australian Food Story: Feeding the Nation and Beyond report’s key recommendation—that the Australian Government develop a comprehensive National Food Plan. A National Food Plan will provide cohesion for food policies and plans across federal, state and local governments. Increased connections across the Australian food system will strengthen our ability to make progress together on food-related issues.

Food and beverage manufacturers shape the health of Australians across all ages. Evidence highlighted that many Australian citizens are consuming unhealthy diets. The Committee has recommended that the Australian Government acknowledge and address the linkages between agri-food production and nutrition and health to minimise the impact of non-communicable diseases.

This inquiry found many opportunities for expanding the Australian food and beverage manufacturing sector. These include export opportunities, integrating new technologies, building on Australia’s reputational and competitive advantages, and adding value to raw products to produce high-value goods. The Committee made several recommendations to take advantage of these opportunities, including a food innovation precinct, protection for native flora, identifying skills shortages in the industry, and supporting automation technologies.

Approximately 40 per cent of submissions received for this inquiry were from the alcohol industry and raised concerns about the system of alcohol taxation in Australia. Due to the complexity of this issue, the Committee did not draw any conclusions on alcohol taxation but has recommended that a House Select Committee be formed to look in detail at how to best support the alcohol industry.

The Committee’s report also covered the interrelationship between the Australian food and beverage manufacturing sector and the circular economy—including recycling, upcycling, food waste and sustainable packaging. The Committee has made six recommendations aimed at supporting the Australian food and beverage manufacturing sector in decarbonisation. The Committee saw the considerable efforts already being made towards this goal during its site visits, including:

• Opal’s paper and recycling mill at Botany, NSW
• Mondelēz Australia / Cadbury’s manufacturing facility at Claremont, TAS
• Tetra Pak / Purearth’s manufacturing facility at Truganina, VIC
• Suntory Oceania’s manufacturing facility at Swanbank, QLD.

I would like to thank all those who contributed to the inquiry, particularly the many businesses and organisations that hosted the Committee at various sites across the country. These experiences provided valuable evidence of the realities facing the sector. I also thank those that attended the Committee’s public hearings to provide their critical insights and expert knowledge, which guided the Committee in forming recommendations for this inquiry.

I would also like to thank my fellow Committee members for their support throughout this inquiry.

Mr Rob Mitchell MP

Chair