I would say that up until this point, generally the public have taken food supply as a given, and as a result, politicians and governments have taken food supply as a given. What we're trying to come to terms with is, what is the plan over a hundred years for Australia? Given that there is some science around it, whether you avoid the science or not is not the issue; it's what you're going to do about it. If there's a thing there and the doctor says, “That's a melanoma, son, you'd better get it off”, you'd either get it off or get a second opinion. You wouldn't ignore it. I think that's where Australia is.
I have to say we don't have a strategic, tucked-away food supply. Obviously we need to be conscious of that. This committee is looking at providing advice not only to the government but also to the public, because it's with full public awareness that politicians get the courage to make decisions--if they think they can get themselves past the next election.
We want to look beyond elections. As I say, Mr. Chairman, our committee consists of all the colours and persuasions of politics, and we've never had a dissenting report. As you know, if you don't eat, you don't do something else, and if you don't do that, you die.