Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Carers and Volunteers, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples) (09:34): I move:

That I introduce a bill for an act to establish Safe Food Victoria and to provide for it to perform functions in regulating the Victorian food industry, to abolish Dairy Food Safety Victoria and PrimeSafe, to amend the Dairy Act 2000 to regulate foods that have not traditionally been produced or processed for human consumption in Victoria or that are produced or processed using new technologies, to make consequential and related amendments to the Dairy Act 2000, the Food Act 1984, the Meat Industry Act 1993, the Seafood Safety Act 2003 and certain other acts and for other purposes.

Motion agreed to.

 Emma KEALY (Lowan) (09:34): I ask the minister for a brief explanation of the bill.

 Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Carers and Volunteers, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples) (09:34): The Safe Food Victoria Bill 2026 will implement the first stage of a two-stage reform program to consolidate food safety regulators in Victoria, consistent with the government’s public commitment in the Economic Growth Statement. The two-stage consolidation of food safety regulators will deliver a clear, simple and proportionate regulatory environment that is easier for business to navigate and results in improved user experience. It will also better protect public health and safety and provide market assurances.

Read first time.

Ordered to be read second time tomorrow.