Greens back naming unhygienic eateries

The Greens and Liberals gave in-principle support to the changes but industry groups fear they will place too high a burden on restaurants.

Under the new laws, eateries would be required to display their current registration certificates, and closure notices if served with a prohibition order. A so-called ''name and shame'' register of restaurants which breach hygiene laws would be made available online.

Businesses would also be required to have a trained food safety supervisor on site.

Australian Hotels Association spokesman Gwyn Rees said industry was blindsided by the new laws after taking part in a sham consultation process.

''We're left wondering whether industry had ever been listened too,'' Mr Reese said.

''The AHA and its members put forward comprehensive submissions to the food safety discussion ... It makes no sense at all to propose further, costly regulation be imposed on industry without first reviewing the current enforcement practice of the Health Protection Service as it relates to food safety.''

Clubs ACT chief executive Jeff House said the Government should conduct a proper review before it passed new laws.

''I am concerned at the trend of this Government to immediately propose further regulation to deal with issues where there is a lack of compliance with existing regulation,'' Mr House said.

''The solution to non-compliance of existing regulation is not to impose more regulation.''

Liberal Heath spokesman Jeremy Hanson said he was broadly supportive of the changes but the Greens' Amanda Bresnan said she would like see a star rating system on restaurant doors.

Health Minister Katy Gallagher said further legislation would be introduced next year. ''We are currently doing the more detailed policy work around the proposal to move to a scores on doors system ... there are some concerns within the industry themselves about a system like that - the cost of it,'' she said.