Page 3142 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 12 September 1990
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convenience. As consumers become more remote from the food source, industry has had to find ways and means not only of preserving the food from decay but also of preserving the original texture, moisture content and freshness.
The major risk to consumers from eating natural foods is in the potential for micro-organisms to accumulate in such numbers as to risk food poisoning. Here again, the proper education of food handlers at production, wholesale and retail levels, together with an aware consumer, will minimise these risks. The health surveillance service will ensure that the health of the public is protected, that consumers are provided with information and that product deception is prevented.
Of course, members will be aware, from examining our forward legislative program, that the proposed food Act, based on the New South Wales Act and the national model food Act, will substantially advance this responsibility.
Public Housing
MRS GRASSBY: My question is directed to the Treasurer. Given that you have cut the allocation of funds to public housing by 32 per cent from last year's budget, what increase is expected in the public housing waiting list?
MR KAINE: I suggest that Mrs Grassby address that question to the Minister for Housing rather than to me. It is a matter for him. If you are talking about housing waiting lists, it is not in my province. Ask the Minister for Housing.
Free-range Eggs
MR STEVENSON: My question is directed to the Minister for Health, Gary Humphries, and is about concern expressed to me regarding free-range eggs in Canberra. How can Canberrans be certain that allegedly free-range eggs on sale in the ACT are genuine as against battery hen eggs? What steps will the Minister take to bring about truth in marketing so that eggs labelled free-range eggs, open-range eggs or similar do in fact comply with the Animal Liberation minimum standards? Will the Animal Liberation standards be included in the new ACT food standards code - such standards having been adopted by every State but not yet by the ACT? And when will the ACT enact this code under the ACT food and drugs regulations? Information I was given would certainly seem to show that there are eggs being advertised as free-range that are not.
MR HUMPHRIES: I thank Mr Stevenson for his question. I am sure Mr Stefaniak will be delighted to know that he is not the only person in the Assembly interested in food. I find
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