By Sue Bolton
MELBOURNE — A survey of 78 local governments conducted by the Victorian state parliamentary Labor Party, results of which were made public on April 9, revealed a massive drop in the number of food inspectors. This follows the state Liberal government's amalgamations of local councils and the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering for local government services.
"The survey of 78 councils shows the number of food inspectors has dropped from 317 to 199 in the past three years, a reduction of nearly 40%", said shadow health minister John Thwaites.
"Instead of being out inspecting food premises and improving public safety, the food inspectors are now spending hours stuck in council offices preparing tender documents."
Thwaites also said that because food safety regulations were abolished by Premier Jeff Kennett's government in 1994, it is now more difficult for food inspectors to enforce proper standards of food handling.
"Rules about the storage of food, temperatures at which it should be stored and shop cleanliness have been abolished", Thwaites said. This had made it more likely that cross-contamination will occur, leading to outbreaks of food poisoning.
A year after it had allowed the health and cleanliness regulations in the state's Health Act to lapse, the Kennett government abolished local council regulations requiring at least one employee at food handling premises to attend an eight-hour food handling course at a TAFE college or accredited private institute. Thwaites accused the government of putting public safety at risk because of its obsession with business deregulation and public sector employment cutbacks.