QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator THORPE (Victoria—Independent VIC Whip) (14:45): My question is for the minister representing agriculture, who I understand is Minister McCarthy. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, APVMA, evaluates, registers and regulates agrochemicals, including pesticides and herbicides. APVMA proposes to raise the maximum residue limit of a PFAS forever pesticide in berries and other foods 500-fold, despite it having harmful health impacts.

When I wrote to APVMA about this, they replied that it is only their role to assess chemicals against legislative criteria and that it is the government's role to assess for safer alternatives and promote them. What is your government doing to phase out harmful PFAS pesticides so that our foods and bodies are not poisoned?