The ACT government is reconsidering its controversial barbecue safety legislation following discussions with local sporting clubs.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The laws were introduced by Labor last month and required safety training for all charity groups holding more than five sausage sizzles a year.
Many sporting clubs and charity organisations came out in protest, saying the new laws would hurt their fund-raising events.
Under the new rules, they had to appoint a food-safety supervisor to monitor all barbecue events. The supervisor would be trained at a cost to the organisation of up to $150 for each candidate.
A spokesman for Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said that further advice and options were being presented to Ms Gallagher by the Health Department.
''ACT Health will be recommending potential changes to the regulation in the near future, following the government listening to sporting groups concerns,'' the spokesman said.
Ms Gallagher urged all in the community to work constructively to reach a satisfactory outcome.
''I am confident a mutually agreeable compromise can be reached on the issues raised about the regulation of food stalls at sporting and community events,'' she said.
ACT and Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew Blyth said the chamber welcomed the re-examination of the laws.
''There have been no health issues relating to sausage sizzles that we're aware of and we're pleased that the government is going to look at this issue. It's a victory for common sense,'' he said.
Mr Blyth said the new rules in their current form had put an unnecessary strain on organisations staffed exclusively by volunteers.
''These clubs are really run by volunteers, who are the salt of the earth,'' he said.
''They've been turning sausages for forever and a day and we felt this was an unnecessary step for the government to take.''
Canberra-Belconnen Lions Club president Neil Fitzpatrick said he was relieved that the government had listened to their concerns.
''We agree with most of [the regulations]. We realise there is a need for people to have good food-handling skills, just to protect the public and to protect the clubs themselves. Our biggest concern realistically was the cost involved for our members,'' he said.
The Canberra Liberals on Monday had called for the ACT government to wind back the new barbecue regulations.
''I understand the motivation behind the legislation, but this has gone too far and this has got to point where we have legislation that will be hurting local charity groups. It is a step too far,'' said Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson.
Mr Hanson said that other states with similar laws had exempted community organisations and the ACT should do the same.
''Other states offer exemptions for not-for-profit and charitable groups from having these food-safety supervisors and it only makes sense that these exemptions be offered in the ACT,'' he said.
But a spokesman for the Chief Minister's office said this move by the government was not a response to Mr Hanson's comments.
''We're not responding to the calls that he made this morning,'' he said. ''The government has been speaking to these groups for some time about their concerns and the changes will be as a result of those discussions.''