Australian beef is safe, and consumers should not be concerned about the meat available to them at the supermarket, the butcher, restaurants, hamburger shops, or anywhere else, The Nationals Member for Riverina, Kay Hull said today.

Mrs Hull said she was alarmed by reports that some consumers had stopped buying beef because of their worries about proposed imports.

“While the Labor Government has announced changes to allow beef to come to Australia from countries that have had a history of BSE, no beef has yet been imported into Australia under the new protocol and will not for many months – at least. 

“Nothing has changed about the quality of beef in Australia; it is as good and safe as ever.

“The Nationals are working hard to ensure that the checks and balances will be put in place to ensure Riverina and Australian beef producers are not impacted upon by the Labor Government’s decision to allow beef from previously affected BSE infected countries such as the US to enter the market.

“I will be pursuing the Rudd Labor Government to ensure any imported beef has clear country of origin labelling in order to protect the Australian beef industry and to ensure Australians consumers continue to purchase Australian beef,” Mrs. Hull said.