New Food Safety Regulator for Victoria
Safe Food Victoria Bill 2026
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
dairy industry food safety information sharing public health regulatory inspections water supply
Introduced by: Gayle Tierney MLC (ALP); The Hon Ros Spence MP (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Emma Kealy NAT
“I rise today to speak on the Safe Food Victoria Bill 2026. In opening, given the incredible impacts of fuel shortages across the state, I would like to acknowledge our amazing farmers, our growers across the state, who are tackling some difficult conditions at this pointin time. Itis notabout thecostof fuel, it is about access to fuel. Thefactof the matter is:if there is no fuel, there is no food.”
Georgie Purcell AJP
“I too rise to speak on the Safe Food Victoria Bill2026. Fromthe outsetI willsaythatI willnotbeopposing this legislation. It is interesting for me to follow the Nationals member and her commentary, which I will be getting into, as well as the comments of her colleague in the lower house in the debate there.”
Michaela Settle ALP
“I rise to contribute to the debate on the Safe Food Victoria Bill 2026. I am very proud to rise to speak on this bill as the Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Victoria but most importantly in my role as Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture.”
Jacinta Ermacora ALP
“I am pleased to speak on the Safe Food Victoria Bill2026. Food safety is a critical issue for Victoria, especially in my own region of south- west Victoria. The south-west of Victoria produces a substantial proportion of Victoria’s beef, lamb, dairy and seafood and an increasing amount of cropped foods like canola.”
Mary-Anne Thomas ALP
“I amvery pleased to be able to speakon theSafe Food Victoria Bill 2026, and I am pleased to be able to do that at a time when the Minister for Agricultureishereinthechamber.Thepreviousspeakerreferencedtheoriginsofthisbill.”
Georgie Crozier LIB
“I rise to speak to the Safe Food Victoria Bill2026 and make a few remarks in relation to this bill. I know my colleague Ms Bath has gone through in detail what the bill will do, and I am not going to repeat all of those aspects and the amendments that we have to the bill, which are important amendments.”
Rachel Westaway LIB
“The Liberal–National opposition does not oppose the Safe Food Bill 2026. Let me say that plainly from the outset, because it matters to how this debate is properly understood. We recognise the case for consolidating Victoria’s food safety regulatory architecture. Queensland, New South Wales and New Zealand have all undertaken similar reforms and the outcomes have broadly been positive.”
The ACTING President
“I have considered the amendments on sheetMB21C, circulated by Ms Bath, and in my view amendments 1 and 22 are not within the scope of the bill. Therefore an instruction motion pursuant to standing order 14.11 is required.”
Roma Britnell LIB
“I rise to speak on the Safe Food Victoria Bill 2026, legislation that proposes significant restructuring of Victoria’s food safety regulatory system.”
Melina Bath NAT
“I move: That it be an instruction to the committee that they have the power to consider and amend a new clause to amend the Food Act 1984 in relation to the use of certain terms in advertising, packaging and labelling of certainfoods. Motion agreed to. Committed.”
Paul Mercurio ALP
“Food, glorious food. I rise today in support of the Safe Food VictoriaBill2026. I wantto takeafew moments to talk about whythis reformmatters and why it is the right thing to do. I would like to thank the member for Pascoe Vale for taking me on a food tour through his electorate, and I am going to get his speech so I can follow that.”
Katie Hall ALP
“I know that Footscray is perhaps not renowned as a farming community, but we do our best locally with the amazing young people at the Footscray High farm, learningallaboutwherefood comesfromandsustainability, and theydo anoutstandingjob. I think it is a really innovative program to teach kids in the city how to grow their own food and how to appreciate and value all things permaculture.”
John Mullahy ALP
“I risein support of theSafeFood VictoriaBill 2026. This is a reform that goes to something fundamental: the safety of the food we eat, the confidence consumers place in our system and the strength of Victoria’s food and agricultural sector. Every Victorian every day relies on the integrity of our food system.”
John Pesutto LIB
“I rise to speak this afternoon on the Safe Food Victoria Bill2026, and I just wish to takeup some comments fromthe previous speaker, who talked about the importanceofrationalisingofficesintheinterestsofefficiency.”