| |
CRAIG COMMENTS |
Food Regulations
Wednesday 13 February 2008
Finally, commonsense on food laws
During my first election campaign in 1999, one of the big issues in the region was the introduction of new food handling regulations, which were implemented because of a batch of dodgy pork rolls that were sold through a Melbourne restaurant.
The government of the day overhauled the regulations on food handling, which hit hardest in regional areas. Local clubs and community groups, as well as businesses, were forced to wade through many pages of paperwork and pay an increase in fees just to run a cake stall or sausage sizzle. The implementation of these laws caused major disruption, hardship and disgust at the government stupidity as local clubs and organisations were bearing the brunt of an unhygienic commercial food outlet.
For a number of years, I have pushed to have these laws overturned, but received limited support in Parliament and through the bureaucracy. The Liberals and Nationals did not want to admit that they had got it wrong when they were in government and the Labor Party did not want to be responsible if watering down the regulations was identified as causing a fatal event of food poisoning.
Five years on, the government has finally acted to address what the community has been saying for almost 10 years -- that these food laws have not increased food safety and have made it difficult for a range of country clubs and groups. Let’s hope that they have finally got the balance right in protecting the community from unsafe food handling practices, but still allowing groups to straightforwardly run sausage sizzles and cake stalls with ease and in peace from the food police.
Container Deposit Scheme
While we are on the topic of fundraising methods, many readers would be aware of my ongoing call for the introduction of a container deposit scheme in Victoria. Older readers may remember collecting discarded bottles and cans as a child and being paid five cents per item that was returned. This was a great source of pocket money for many children as well as reducing the amount of litter in our streets and roadways.
This week, the Liberals, Nationals and Greens have joined my call for the introduction of Container Deposit Legislation. The issue has now been put on the agenda for the April meeting of the nation’s environment ministers and it looks that this is a real chance for success. The South Australians have successfully operated this scheme for 30 years and are fully in support. The West Australian government has recently announced that they are planning to implement the scheme and other states and territories have indicted some support.
One of the biggest obstacles is the powerful waste industry companies who are pushing hard against the proposal. It has been revealed this week that Visy Industries has stockpiled 150,000 tonnes of broken glass that they are currently not processing due to the co-mingling of products in curb side recycling. Local shires and your rates are currently paying the shortfall in recycling these products.
A container deposit scheme increases recycling rates, decreases beverage containers in the environment and landfill and has approximately 80% public support.
It’s time for the Victorian Government to “do the right thing”.
