Now is the time to fix up the confusing issue of country of origin labelling. Consumers should be able to tell by a simple and clear labelling system where produce comes from.
Australian farmers also deserve the opportunity to clearly present their proudly Australian grown products to the market.
The Prime Minister has charged senior Ministers for Industry (MacFarlane), Agriculture (Joyce), Trade (Robb) and Health (Nash) with formulating a method for dealing with country of origin labelling.
The issues around country of origin labelling have been around for a long time and a substantial amount of work has already been undertaken through a recent inquiry held by the House of Representatives Agriculture and Industry Committee.
I believe the country of origin should be in larger font in order for the consumer to be able to easily see where the product was produced. This should be divorced from the country where the product was manufactured.
We have the best farmers in the world and consumers who want to buy an Australian product should be able to identify an item that has really been made in Australia.
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Young people considering taking a Gap Year in 2016 will be able to apply for the Australian Defence Force Gap Year program from 2 March. This program offers a number of great opportunities for young people between 17 and 24 years who have finished year 12.
The Navy, Army and Air Force all partake in this program and a number of jobs are available to participants including Administration Clerk, Artilleryman, Driver Specialist, Rifleman, Unit Quartermaster, Airbase Protection, Crew Attendant, Personnel Capability Specialist and Supply.
The program offers a chance to learn on the job, pick up life skills and gain an experience that will be well regarded by future employers.
Participants in the ADF Gap Year program are not eligible to deploy on domestic or international operations; however they do participate in all of the training with their Unit.
The ADF Gap Year program offers flexibility to participants who are able to elect to voluntarily leave the program if they find they are not suited to the ADF lifestyle.
Once the Gap Year program has been completed participants then have the opportunity to continue service full time with the Navy, Army or Air Force or transfer to the Reserves and continue to use the skills they have gained over the course of the program.
For more information and to register your interest please visit: www.defencejobs.gov.au/education/GapYear.