Recommendations

Local government entities should:

1. ensure food business inspections are prioritised and carried out according to their risk classification
2. ensure changes to inspection frequencies are only made based on a documented assessment of compliance history or other urgent requirement
3. improve recordkeeping for food business inspections and compliance reporting to:
   1. better understand inspection and compliance history
   2. identify compliance issues and follow-up activities
   3. respond to emerging food safety issues
4. develop procedures and staff guidance to ensure non-compliant food businesses are followed up and Standards enforced in a consistent and timely manner
5. work with the Department of Health in the development and implementation of new electronic food safety inspection and recordkeeping systems.

Under section 7.12A of the Local Government Act 1995, all audited entities are required to prepare an action plan addressing significant matters relevant to their entity for submission to the Minister for Local Government within 3 months of this report being tabled in Parliament and for publication on the entity’s website. This action plan should address the points above, to the extent that they are relevant to their entity, as indicated in this report.

Response from local government entities

Local government entities in our sample generally accepted the recommendations and confirmed that, where relevant, they will improve inspection and enforcement practices, recordkeeping and compliance reporting for regulating food businesses.