Independent Member for Alfred Cove Dr Janet Woollard believes that the City of Melville should immediately cancel charging school canteens a fee for health inspections, and should reimburse schools for money already collected.

Responding to a Question asked by Dr Woollard in Parliament about Councils charging school P&Cs a fee for canteen health inspections, the Minister for Health, Dr Kim Hames asserted that he remained “strongly opposed to charging for that inspection.” 

Only two Councils currently charge P&Cs a fee for school canteen health inspections, the City of Melville and the Town of Kwinana.  The Minister acknowledged that the City of Melville had reduced their fees but reiterated his view that “I would prefer them all to charge nothing”.

“While local governments can charge fees for compulsory health inspections they can also exempt certain organisations” said Dr Woollard.

“School canteens are run by volunteer Parents and Citizens (P&C) Committees to support our schools and should automatically qualify for such an exemption.” 

“P&C’s work very hard and I think it appalling that their hard earned money, which often goes towards buying basic sporting or classroom equipment, is taken from them by the City of Melville.”

"Any profit made from sales in school canteens goes straight back into the school community to benefit all schoolchildren.”

“As it is many school canteens have closed, or now only operate on some days, so should be encouraged and supported, not charged $170 by Council for what other Councils have described as often a 15 minute procedure.

“Many students rely on buying their school lunch from the school canteens.”

“It is unacceptable for the City of Melville to seek to profit from P&C run school canteens.  Like other Councils they should be supporting the schools in their area and should exempt all school canteens from these charges.”