Save the sausage sizzle

Source: Sykes Media Release

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes believes that the Brumby Government needs to get its act together and speed up the implementation of amendments to the Food Act.

Current rules require organisers to have to deal with up to 40 pages of paperwork and have a food safety program or food safety supervisor just to run a simple sausage sizzle or cake stall.

“In February 2008 the Treasurer loudly proclaimed how the Brumby Government was going to save the sausage sizzle and implement new regulations,” Dr Sykes said. “However, we now learn that these changes are not going to be fully in place until early 2011.

“Once again we find that Government bureaucracy is over-riding the needs of our communities,” he said.

Dr Sykes has previously raised the issue of reducing regulatory burdens and red tape in Parliament which would save, for example community fundraising efforts such as the sausage sizzle.

“Community organisations such as the Country Women’s Association, Rotary, Lions and Red Cross do magnificent work raising money through cake stalls and sausage sizzles and helping out our volunteers in times of emergency such as the recent bush fires.

Dr Sykes recognised the Saturday morning sausage sizzle outside the local supermarket in rural towns like Bright, Mansfield, Euroa, Alexandra, Myrtleford and Nagambie as a feature of rural life.

“They are a valuable fundraiser; they are a key community building exercise, and they are valuable for fellowship and support particularly in tough times in the country.

“We were all looking forward to these promised changes but because of Government inaction and red tape the whole process continues to be held up,” Dr Sykes said.

“I urge the Brumby Government to take charge of the entire process and, in their own words, save the sausage sizzle by speeding up the implementation of the legislation that makes it easier for groups holding sausage sizzles or cake stalls,” he said.

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989 www.billsykes.com.au


Rowena Sladdin
Electorate Officer
Office of Bill Sykes MP, State Member for Benalla
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture & Water
Ph: 03 5762 2100 Fx: 03 5762 4478