Thursday, 4 December 2003, 4:43 pm
Press Release: Green Party
Government jumps the gun on year-long inquiry
Green MP Sue Kedgley says it is scandalous that the
Government is to completely ignore the findings of a Select
Committee inquiry into how to regulate dietary supplements.
In answer to Ms Kedgley's question in Parliament today, the
Health Minister admitted that the Government has decided to
go ahead and regulate dietary supplements through a
Trans-Tasman Therapeutics Products Agency, instead of
waiting till the Select Committee made its own
recommendations next week.
"Clearly the Government had made up its mind before the
inquiry had begun its work," said Ms Kedgley, the Green
Health spokesperson. "It has turned a year-long inquiry
into a farce, wasted taxpayers' money and insulted the
hundreds of people who made submissions to the Health
select committee inquiry in good faith.
"The government's arrogant decision is an insult to the
democratic process. What's the point of having
parliamentary select committee inquiries if the government
simply ignores them?" Ms Kedgley asked. She pointed out
that joint Health Ministry-TGA website stated that the
Government would not make a final decision until after the
Select Committee inquiry had been concluded.
Ms Kedgley said the overwhelming majority of submitters,
including from the dietary supplements industry, were
totally opposed to the regulation of dietary supplements
through a trans-Tasman agency, because of the higher
compliance costs and loss of sovereignty that would
inevitably result.
The Health Select Committee's report into how best to
regulate dietary supplements will be reported back early
next week.
Back to top of document
