Priority – Medium
Security Level – In Confidence
To: Hon Andrew Hoggard, Minister for Food Safety
From: Sarah Reader, Acting Director Regulatory Systems Policy
Biography and suggested topics for meeting with Hon Chris
Picton, South Australian Minister for Health and Wellbeing
Date
18 July 2024
Reference
AM24-0709
Purpose
•
This aide-memoire provides you with a biography and suggested topics for your
meeting with the host of the Ninth Food Ministers’ Meeting (FMM09) – Hon
Christopher ‘Chris’ Picton, South Australian Minister for Health and Wellbeing.
Biography
1. A biography for Minister Picton is provided at
Appendix One. Al biographical
information has been obtained from either the Ministers’ own personal website, and
the South Australia Government’s website.
Suggested topics for discussion
2. Suggested topics and talking points that you may wish to use for your meeting with
Minister Picton are provided in the table below.
3. These topics include some of the FMM09 agenda items for which there is understood
to be potential alignment between New Zealand and South Australian positions at the
officials-level.
Topic
Possible talking points
Thank you for hosting
•
Thank you for hosting the upcoming Food Minsters’ Meeting.
•
I understand from my officials, who were involved in
organising the last face-to-face meeting in New Zealand, that
this can be a large undertaking.
•
It is great to be able to discuss substantive items in-person.
Representing New Zealand in the
•
As you are no doubt aware, we have a coalition Government
Joint Food System
in New Zealand.
•
In terms of representing New Zealand in the Joint Food
System, this means I have a responsibility to ensure that my
coalition partners are informed, where necessary, of
substantive decision points and that our Government’s
priorities are reflected in my positions.
AM24-0709
Page 1 of 2
Topic
Possible talking points
Priority Three (P3) Project
•
What are your thoughts on the P3 project and priority areas for
the Joint Food System?
•
I would be keen to see this project brought to a timely finish. It
has been progressing since 2019 and it would be great to see
outcomes realised.
•
This would also free up resource in the System for other
projects of priority.
•
I understand that no plan/programme of work has been drawn
up. I see this as the next priority. We should be able to use the
agreed Strategic Objectives to develop a clear direction of
work for the next few years.
Proposal P1049 – Carbohydrate
•
FSANZ has completed consumer research as requested by
and Sugar Claims on Alcoholic
Food Ministers.
beverages
•
I am now keen to see this proposal finalised and the decision
point for Food Ministers to remain in sync with Proposal P1059
(energy label ing on alcohol).
FSANZ Nutrition Information Panel •
I understand FSANZ is suggesting that we as Food Ministers
(NIP) Proposal & P1058
agree to them commencing a holistic review of the NIP.
•
Given the NIP is on most products, this could have wide
implications for industry. I am keen to see policy work to define
the scope and problem(s) with the current NIP before we
agree to this.
•
The work to incorporate added sugars in the NIP has clearly
been difficult. Given the outcomes of FSANZ’s study shows
consumers are confused by this, I think the proposal should be
closed.
Minister / Minister’s Office
Seen / Referred
/ / 2024
AM24-0709
Page 2 of 2
Appendix One: Biography
Hon Christopher ‘Chris’ Picton, South Australian Minister for Health and Wel being.
Lead Minister to the Food Ministers’ Meeting for South Australia.
Member of the Labor Party.
Minister Picton is the South Australian
Minister for Health and Wellbeing and the
member for Kaurna in the southern suburbs
of Adelaide. Minister Picton has previously
served as Minister for Police, Correctional
Services, Emergency Services, and Road
Safety.
Before his election to Parliament, Minister
Picton served as Senior Adviser and Chief of
Staff to former state and federal Health
Ministers, and as an Associate Director at
Deloitte Access Economics. His areas of
policy work included tobacco plain packaging
and national public hospital funding reforms.
Minister Picton is passionate about
improving health care outcomes for all South
Australians. He was educated at public
schools in Adelaide and graduated from
Flinders University with a Bachelor of Laws
and Legal Practice and a Bachelor of Arts.
Minister Picton is a husband, and a dad of
three young kids. When he has free time, he
enjoys walking his dog on the beach,
volunteer surf life saving and supporting the
Adelaide Crows (Australian Football
League).
AM24-0709
Page 1 of 1
Appendix One
Document Outline
