Page 3546 - Week 11 - Thursday, 23 October 2014
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the bill have been carefully assessed against public health objectives. As the Minister for Health, I am keen to protect the existing high standards of food safety enjoyed by the Canberra community when eating out. To allow the Health Directorate to put in place the administrative arrangements needed to support the bill, the commencement date has been delayed. The bill will commence no later than six months after notification.
I would like to begin with the amendments in the bill that relate to the non-profit sector. As members would be aware, non-profit community organisations play an important role in the ACT. These organisations are run for the benefit of their membership or wider community, not for the purposes of generating profit. They deliver a range of services, including welfare, education, sports, arts, worship and culture, and help combat social exclusion and enhance the wellbeing of the Canberra community.
To enable the delivery of services, many non-profit organisations rely on funds raised through the sale of food at community stalls. The amendments I am presenting today aim to reduce the regulatory burden placed on these organisations when selling food for fundraising purposes.
The Food Act as it currently stands captures many of the food-related activities—
Opposition members interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: Madam Speaker, we do not usually have heckling during the presentation of a bill. I would ask that members respect what has been custom and practice in this place.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Ms Gallagher. Come to order, members.
MS GALLAGHER: The Food Act as it currently stands captures many of the food-related activities undertaken by non-profit community organisations. For example, many are required to register and have a food safety supervisor. Following concerns about the burden imposed by these requirements, I announced an exemption in November 2013—specifically, that non-profit community organisations that sell food for occasional events such as a fundraising barbecue, and which only provide lower risk foods, would be exempt from the requirement to register and appoint a food safety supervisor. The Health Directorate has been regulating community fundraising food stalls in line with this direction.
The bill I am presenting today seeks to further deregulate the non-profit community sector. Under the proposed amendments, non-profit community organisations will be removed from the operation of the act when selling food for fundraising purposes, unless operating at a declared event. The exemption will apply regardless of the types of food being sold.
This amendment will better allow these organisations to sell more nutritious options such as fruit salad and rice dishes, which are potentially higher risk but also healthier for us. The amendment is aimed at minimising the incentive that currently exists for
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