Minister for Agriculture, Senator Bridget McKenzie, is in New Zealand to grow the two countries’ strong agricultural relationship and to attend the Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation.
“Australia and New Zealand have a long-standing and mature agricultural trade and investment relationship. This week I am in New Zealand to progress opportunities for more cooperation on innovation across the Tasman,” Minister McKenzie said.
“I’ll meet with my New Zealand counterpart, Minister Damien O’Connor, to discuss the importance of bilateral collaboration to build and share expertise in digital agriculture, agricultural technology and agricultural innovation.
“There’s tremendous opportunity for Australia and New Zealand to partner in this space which is why I’ll be seeing first hand some of the cutting-edge research going on at Lincoln University in Christchurch and Massey University in Palmerston North.
“I’m also using this opportunity to attend the Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation which is chaired by Australia’s Minister responsible for food, Senator Richard Colbeck. It’s a meeting between state and territory food ministers and the New Zealand Minister to set shared standards.
“I’ll be joining with New South Wales’ Minister Adam Marshall in advocating for changes to the labelling of plant-based dairy and meat alternatives in order to help protect our Australian dairy and meat industries-industries that are producing authentic products.
“I am also keen to discuss the response to the Health Star Rating System five year review report at the forum. While this is a good system and people appreciate it as a guide to healthy living, there’s room to make some further improvements.
“Our agricultural relationship and friendship with New Zealand is underpinned by a number of agreements and cooperative initiatives including the 2009 commitment to a Single Economic Market agenda-designed to create a seamless trans-Tasman business environment.
“I am keen to develop this relationship even further, especially as New Zealand is an important market for Australia’s agricultural products with agriculture, fisheries and forestry exports totalling $2.2 billion in 2018-19.”
