❓ Mrs Roberts questions the Health Minister about local councils charging school P&Cs inspection fees for canteens, referencing the Food Act 2008. The Minister responds that he has addressed the issue by issuing a direction to stop councils from charging these fees, except when canteens are run by private sector organisations.
AnsweredQoN 712Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOL CANTEENS — INSPECTION SERVICE FEES
I refer to the concerns raised with the minister by the Western Australian Council of State School Organisations, set to be broadcast on Today Tonight this evening, of some school P&Cs that are being charged fees of up to $300 by local councils for their canteens. (1) Does the minister acknowledge that clause 6(2) of the Food Act 2008 states — The regulations may exempt from all or any provisions of this Act a prescribed activity of a charitable or community nature …? (2) Will the minister move, by way of regulation to the Food Act or by any other means, to exempt school P&Cs from this new local government fee that is already being charged by some councils; and, if not, why not? Dr K.D. HAMES
I refer to the concerns raised with the minister by the Western Australian Council of State School Organisations, set to be broadcast on Today Tonight this evening, of some school P&Cs that are being charged fees of up to $300 by local councils for their canteens. (1) Does the minister acknowledge that clause 6(2) of the Food Act 2008 states — The regulations may exempt from all or any provisions of this Act a prescribed activity of a charitable or community nature …? (2) Will the minister move, by way of regulation to the Food Act or by any other means, to exempt school P&Cs from this new local government fee that is already being charged by some councils; and, if not, why not? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) That is a very good question and one that has already been raised by members on the government side, including the member for Jandakot and the member for Ocean Reef. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What are you doing? Dr K.D. HAMES : I have fixed it. It is a very good question and a very important issue. When changes were made to the Food Act, councils were allowed to charge schools that were running their own canteens for an inspection service. Like the member, I thought that was totally inappropriate, so we looked at ways to sort that out. It was brought to my attention that we could do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Didn’t you write to WACSSO and say that it should go back to the local government authority, not to you? Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall signing the letter. Let me explain it. It is a very serious issue, and the member is right that what was happening was wrong. I have fixed it. I have — Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
(1) Does the minister acknowledge that clause 6(2) of the Food Act 2008 states — The regulations may exempt from all or any provisions of this Act a prescribed activity of a charitable or community nature …? (2) Will the minister move, by way of regulation to the Food Act or by any other means, to exempt school P&Cs from this new local government fee that is already being charged by some councils; and, if not, why not? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(2) That is a very good question and one that has already been raised by members on the government side, including the member for Jandakot and the member for Ocean Reef. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What are you doing? Dr K.D. HAMES : I have fixed it. It is a very good question and a very important issue. When changes were made to the Food Act, councils were allowed to charge schools that were running their own canteens for an inspection service. Like the member, I thought that was totally inappropriate, so we looked at ways to sort that out. It was brought to my attention that we could do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Didn’t you write to WACSSO and say that it should go back to the local government authority, not to you? Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall signing the letter. Let me explain it. It is a very serious issue, and the member is right that what was happening was wrong. I have fixed it. I have — Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(2) That is a very good question and one that has already been raised by members on the government side, including the member for Jandakot and the member for Ocean Reef. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What are you doing? Dr K.D. HAMES : I have fixed it. It is a very good question and a very important issue. When changes were made to the Food Act, councils were allowed to charge schools that were running their own canteens for an inspection service. Like the member, I thought that was totally inappropriate, so we looked at ways to sort that out. It was brought to my attention that we could do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Didn’t you write to WACSSO and say that it should go back to the local government authority, not to you? Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall signing the letter. Let me explain it. It is a very serious issue, and the member is right that what was happening was wrong. I have fixed it. I have — Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
(1)–(2) That is a very good question and one that has already been raised by members on the government side, including the member for Jandakot and the member for Ocean Reef. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What are you doing? Dr K.D. HAMES : I have fixed it. It is a very good question and a very important issue. When changes were made to the Food Act, councils were allowed to charge schools that were running their own canteens for an inspection service. Like the member, I thought that was totally inappropriate, so we looked at ways to sort that out. It was brought to my attention that we could do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Didn’t you write to WACSSO and say that it should go back to the local government authority, not to you? Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall signing the letter. Let me explain it. It is a very serious issue, and the member is right that what was happening was wrong. I have fixed it. I have — Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : What are you doing? Dr K.D. HAMES : I have fixed it. It is a very good question and a very important issue. When changes were made to the Food Act, councils were allowed to charge schools that were running their own canteens for an inspection service. Like the member, I thought that was totally inappropriate, so we looked at ways to sort that out. It was brought to my attention that we could do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Didn’t you write to WACSSO and say that it should go back to the local government authority, not to you? Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall signing the letter. Let me explain it. It is a very serious issue, and the member is right that what was happening was wrong. I have fixed it. I have — Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I have fixed it. It is a very good question and a very important issue. When changes were made to the Food Act, councils were allowed to charge schools that were running their own canteens for an inspection service. Like the member, I thought that was totally inappropriate, so we looked at ways to sort that out. It was brought to my attention that we could do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Didn’t you write to WACSSO and say that it should go back to the local government authority, not to you? Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall signing the letter. Let me explain it. It is a very serious issue, and the member is right that what was happening was wrong. I have fixed it. I have — Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Didn’t you write to WACSSO and say that it should go back to the local government authority, not to you? Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall signing the letter. Let me explain it. It is a very serious issue, and the member is right that what was happening was wrong. I have fixed it. I have — Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall signing the letter. Let me explain it. It is a very serious issue, and the member is right that what was happening was wrong. I have fixed it. I have — Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
(1) Does the minister acknowledge that clause 6(2) of the Food Act 2008 states — The regulations may exempt from all or any provisions of this Act a prescribed activity of a charitable or community nature …? (2) Will the minister move, by way of regulation to the Food Act or by any other means, to exempt school P&Cs from this new local government fee that is already being charged by some councils; and, if not, why not? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(2) That is a very good question and one that has already been raised by members on the government side, including the member for Jandakot and the member for Ocean Reef. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What are you doing? Dr K.D. HAMES : I have fixed it. It is a very good question and a very important issue. When changes were made to the Food Act, councils were allowed to charge schools that were running their own canteens for an inspection service. Like the member, I thought that was totally inappropriate, so we looked at ways to sort that out. It was brought to my attention that we could do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Didn’t you write to WACSSO and say that it should go back to the local government authority, not to you? Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall signing the letter. Let me explain it. It is a very serious issue, and the member is right that what was happening was wrong. I have fixed it. I have — Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(2) That is a very good question and one that has already been raised by members on the government side, including the member for Jandakot and the member for Ocean Reef. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What are you doing? Dr K.D. HAMES : I have fixed it. It is a very good question and a very important issue. When changes were made to the Food Act, councils were allowed to charge schools that were running their own canteens for an inspection service. Like the member, I thought that was totally inappropriate, so we looked at ways to sort that out. It was brought to my attention that we could do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Didn’t you write to WACSSO and say that it should go back to the local government authority, not to you? Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall signing the letter. Let me explain it. It is a very serious issue, and the member is right that what was happening was wrong. I have fixed it. I have — Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
(1)–(2) That is a very good question and one that has already been raised by members on the government side, including the member for Jandakot and the member for Ocean Reef. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What are you doing? Dr K.D. HAMES : I have fixed it. It is a very good question and a very important issue. When changes were made to the Food Act, councils were allowed to charge schools that were running their own canteens for an inspection service. Like the member, I thought that was totally inappropriate, so we looked at ways to sort that out. It was brought to my attention that we could do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Didn’t you write to WACSSO and say that it should go back to the local government authority, not to you? Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall signing the letter. Let me explain it. It is a very serious issue, and the member is right that what was happening was wrong. I have fixed it. I have — Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : What are you doing? Dr K.D. HAMES : I have fixed it. It is a very good question and a very important issue. When changes were made to the Food Act, councils were allowed to charge schools that were running their own canteens for an inspection service. Like the member, I thought that was totally inappropriate, so we looked at ways to sort that out. It was brought to my attention that we could do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Didn’t you write to WACSSO and say that it should go back to the local government authority, not to you? Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall signing the letter. Let me explain it. It is a very serious issue, and the member is right that what was happening was wrong. I have fixed it. I have — Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I have fixed it. It is a very good question and a very important issue. When changes were made to the Food Act, councils were allowed to charge schools that were running their own canteens for an inspection service. Like the member, I thought that was totally inappropriate, so we looked at ways to sort that out. It was brought to my attention that we could do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Didn’t you write to WACSSO and say that it should go back to the local government authority, not to you? Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall signing the letter. Let me explain it. It is a very serious issue, and the member is right that what was happening was wrong. I have fixed it. I have — Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Didn’t you write to WACSSO and say that it should go back to the local government authority, not to you? Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall signing the letter. Let me explain it. It is a very serious issue, and the member is right that what was happening was wrong. I have fixed it. I have — Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I do not recall signing the letter. Let me explain it. It is a very serious issue, and the member is right that what was happening was wrong. I have fixed it. I have — Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Mr M. McGowan : Looked at it. Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Dr K.D. HAMES : No. I issued a direction under the regulations to stop councils from charging those fees. The only area in which it may still be able to be done is when councils contract out the provision of lunches to a private sector organisation; a large organisation that runs a lunch program that is generally a full profit program. Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : School canteens are the problem. Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
Dr K.D. HAMES : When it has been done in a school canteen run by an outside organisation, that company will still be required to pay for an inspection but when it is run by a school P&C, that will no longer be the case.
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