Australia’s emissions reduction policy must maintain the competitiveness of Australian export and import-competing industries – such as food and grocery – without exposing them to costs their competitors don’t face, the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) said on Friday.Responding to Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s announcement on climate change, AFGC agreed with a national consultative approach to emissions reduction that does not give any country an unfair competitive... ...Read more »

The recognition and support for food processing in the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) amendments has been welcomed by Australia’s largest manufacturing sector, the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) said today. The Government’s proposed $150 million allocation under the Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF) would provide much-needed support for Australia’s $100 billion food and grocery manufacturing sector, according to the industry body. AFGC... ...Read more »

Farmers are to be exempt from the planned emissions trading scheme, with Labor agreeing to the Coalition request for an exclusion of agriculture from the scheme. Horticulture organisation Growcom welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement, with Chief Advocate Rachel Mackenzie saying the decision was a significant concession and a win for the agricultural sector. “This is a real win for the horticulture sector as we really didn’t need an extra cost imposition that would have... ...Read more »

The inclusion of food processing in the Coalition’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) amendments has been well received by the leading representative of food manufacturers in the country – the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC). Under the Coalition’s proposed amendments to the CPRS legislation, key export industries will be better supported including food processing, which is Australia largest manufacturing sector. “AFGC congratulates the Coalition for its willingness... ...Read more »

All sides of politics must sit down and negotiate a solution to emissions trading that won’t put Australian manufacturing jobs at risk after the Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) legislation was defeated in the Senate today, the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) suggested. AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell contends that the CPRS Bill would have forced Australians to pay more for home-grown manufactured food and groceries.”The Government’s Bill... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council has urged the federal government to implement a Carbon Pollution Reductions Scheme (CPRS) which ensures that Australia’s food and grocery manufacturing sector’s international competitiveness is maintained. “It is industry’s view that any emissions trading scheme which does not include international emitters represents a real threat to the packaged food and grocery industry,” Kate Carnell, Chief Executive of the AFGC, said in a... ...Read more »