Liberal senator Cory Bernardi says he’s confident a re-elected Turnbull government will deliver a “comprehensive” response to an inquiry into halal food certification.
A Senate inquiry report tabled in December called for better regulation of the system, including clearer labelling and government intervention.
But the committee rejected suggestions from Senator Bernardi and others who contributed to the inquiry that the Islamic food certification system was used to finance terrorism.
It found there were some scammers in the industry and called for halal products to have one clear trademark, a single certifier body and government monitoring.
Senator Bernardi said in his latest email to supporters the response to the inquiry was taking longer than expected.
“I have met with officials and am satisfied they are working toward a comprehensive result,” he said.
On budget day last week, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce tabled an interim response from the government.
In his letter, Mr Joyce said his department was preparing a response to what was an “important and complex issue”.
The response would involve not only the agriculture department, but the departments of health, industry, prime minister and cabinet, IP Australia and industry stakeholders.