Page 4185 - Week 13 - Thursday, 27 November 2014
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community. An area of particular community interest was this need to distinguish and clarify the differences between fundraising and commercial operations. There obviously is a difference there. As the explanatory statement makes clear, clause 6 removes food-related activities conducted for the purpose of fundraising by non-profit community organisations from the application of the Food Act, except at declared events.
Of particular interest to me and my constituents in the sports and recreation space, the exemption is intended to include the operation of non-commercial fundraising stalls by community organisations, such as a weekend canteen by a community sports club or cake stall at a school fete.
The explanatory statement goes further in helpfully describing the rationale behind this decision. It recognises that food stalls at fetes and fundraisers sell food to any persons who choose to attend. Customers attending do not need to purchase food and have the option of going elsewhere to purchase food. In short, it acknowledges that people buying a sausage out the front of Bunnings, for example, are doing so of their own free will and with an awareness of the cooking and food handling conditions. I guess that it is the classic case of caveat emptor: let the buyer beware.
I think that this is a common-sense approach that unfortunately the previous manifestation of the legislation did not quite get right. I appreciate that the minister has come back to change these regulations in light of the fact that the way they played out I do not think were in anybody’s expectations of the bill that was passed through this place on a previous occasion. I am happy to lend my support to the bill.
Visitors
MADAM SPEAKER: Before I call the minister, I would just like to acknowledge the presence in the gallery of students from the CIT’s adult migrant English program. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.
Food Amendment Bill 2014
Debate resumed.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Minister for Health, Minister for Higher Education and Minister for Regional Development) (12.15), in reply: I table a revised explanatory statement. I thank other members for their contribution to the debate this morning on the Food Amendment Bill.
The food service industry is both dynamic and diverse. The breadth of food-related activities in the ACT spans fine-dining restaurants, farmers markets, cafes, takeaways, mobile food vans and home businesses. Additionally, food service forms part of a range of other activities, including festivals, school fetes and community fundraisers. Each of these contributes to the vibrancy of life in Canberra and delivers important value to our economy.
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