KEY ISSUES From the President DAVID BASHEER
The following is the speech I gave to politicians and key decision makers at the AHA|SA’s recent Christmas Lunch. In a room crowded with people who affect our daily lives – and businesses – the aim is to table key issues our industry needs addressed. It is a very great pleasure to echo Annas ’s earlier sentiments and welcome dignitaries and friends. Thank you to the Premier for his kind words. This annual lunch has been held continuously since 1960 when political and industry leaders first gathered at the Feathers Hotel . It presents an opportunity to celebrate the hotel and pub culture that employs 26250 South Australians. So too, it is a time when the AHA President is afforded the luxury of offering Governments some gratuitous advice. And, in the spirit of the Xmas season, noting who has been naughty and who has been nice.
for our members – with Public Holidays being the exception. More on that shortly. Equally, we thank the opposition and cross benchers for their readiness to work together on our key issues. RED TAPE Headlining the naughty list this year is a rampant bureaucracy. Like never before, our industry is being strangled by red tape! Elected politicians must intervene to curtail the unreasonable growth of regulation and compliance that is now an exhausting burden. Our members are frustrated by the uncoordinated approach of local, state and federal agencies, who seem incapable of ever speaking to each other. Escalating obligations have left our family operators being asked to have a back office more resembling the size of BHP. Some examples:
They require highly qualified chefs - who may be famed leaders in their field - to do a food safety 101 course. For 8 hours! That includes uploading a video of themselves washing their hands. Once uploaded, a public servant – probably working from the comfort of their own home – will assess if our chef’s hands are clean enough to return to the Chargrill. A further training course is required for any bar staff whose only food role may be to occasionally toast a pre-made cheese and tomato sandwich. To me, that makes about as much sense as requiring a politician to do a Manual Handling In The Workplace course merely because – once every 4 years during the electoral cycle – they lift a box of election pamphlets. There is not a shred of evidence this extra cost is required.
The AHA enjoys an excellent working relationship with members of the current State Parliament
Existing compliance obligations from local and State Governments ensure our hotels already have high standards of food safety.
Common sense dictates ANY new layer of obligation would see duplicate Government requirements removed. But that is never the case for this growth industry.
This Government deserves credit for being willing to consult - and have largely produced positive outcomes
Now the Federal Government has jumped in to add its own food safety standards.
Losing key staff for 8 hours during an acute labour shortage to demonstrate they can wash
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