LABOR GOVTS FOOD SAFETY:
RISK TO CONSUMERS
The ACT Labor Government is pushing ahead with additional food industry regulations despite the Auditor General finding it cannot get the basics of food safety management right, ACT Shadow Health Minister Jeremy Hanson said today.
The Auditor-General has raised serious concerns about the ACT Labor Governments Health Protection Service which could potentially place consumers in danger, Mr Hanson said.
These concerns include:
An almost 30 per cent decline in the number and proportion of scheduled inspections of registered food businesses and an inability to inspect premises within targeted timeframes
No policies or procedures in place to respond to food-borne illness outbreaks
Incomplete or inaccurate enforcement documentation
A reactive approach to monitoring non-compliance.
- Management of Food Safety in the ACT, Auditor General Report No.6/2011.
The Auditor General noted the Services inability to inspect food premises within targeted timeframes and reactive approach to non compliance increases risks to consumers and may compromise food safety, Mr Hanson said.
Once again, frontline public servants dont have the management or resources to properly do the job we all rely on.
Katy Gallagher needs to get the basic management of her Health Protection Service right before pushing additional regulation of the food industry through the governments Food Amendment Bill 2011.
I am very concerned about the Auditor Generals report and will seek assurances that the government will rectify these failings before the Canberra Liberals consider the upcoming Bill, Mr Hanson concluded.
