Queensland Food Farmers’ Commissioner Bill 2024 (Qld)

An Act to establish the office of Queensland food farmers' commissioner and for related purposes The Parliament of Queensland enacts—

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Queensland Food Farmers' Commissioner Act 2024.

2 Main object The main object of this Act is to establish the office of Queensland food farmers' commissioner to support Queensland farmers and consumers in their dealings with supermarkets for the purpose of— (a) improving transparency of those dealings, including, for example, dealings related to food supply chains and pricing of products; and (b) redressing power imbalances; and (c) supporting sustainability and stability of the food supply chain in Queensland.

3 Definitions In this Act— commissioner means the Queensland food farmers' commissioner appointed under part 2. commissioner for fair trading means the commissioner for fair trading established under the Fair Trading Act 1989. farmer means a person or entity whose sole or main business is a farming business located in Queensland. farming business includes— (a) an agricultural, apicultural, dairy farming, horticultural, land-based aquacultural, pastoral, poultry keeping or viticultural business; and (b) another business that involves cultivating the soil, gathering crops or rearing livestock; and (c) another business prescribed by regulation to be a farming business.

Part 2 Queensland food farmers' commissioner

Division 1 Establishment

4 Queensland food farmers' commissioner There is to be a Queensland food farmers' commissioner.

5 Functions and powers (1) The main functions of the commissioner are— (a) to provide a primary point of contact for matters affecting farmers; and (b) to provide information and advice to help farmers understand and manage arrangements that govern relationships between supermarkets and their suppliers; and (c) to work collaboratively with State and Commonwealth entities and other persons responsible for regulating farmers, including, for example— (i) the commissioner for fair trading; and (ii) the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission established by the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cwlth), section 6A; and (iii) Food Standards Australia New Zealand continued in existence under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cwlth); and (d) to monitor and advise the Queensland Government on developments in national arrangements that govern the relationships between supermarkets and their suppliers; and (e) to report to the Minister about a particular issue or general matter relating to farmers or consumers, including, for example, improper behaviours and business practices adversely affecting farmers or consumers; and (f) to prepare reports about— (i) a particular issue or general matter affecting farmers or consumers; or (ii) the commissioner's functions; and (g) to publish reports mentioned in paragraph (f) if the commissioner and the Minister consider publication is appropriate; and (h) to perform any other function given to the commissioner under this Act or another Act. (2) The commissioner has power to do anything necessary or convenient to be done for the performance of the commissioner's functions.