A new community kitchen, which assists in boosting the number of skilled hospitality workers while also helping disadvantaged members of the community, was opened today by Victorian Premier John Brumby.The kitchen – an initiative of Youth Projects Incorporated, a not-for-profit body funded by Victorian, Commonwealth and local government grants – will provide training opportunities in hospitality and health promotion while also providing food for disadvantaged people in the local community. Mr... ...Read more »

Melbourne will take centre stage at the world’s largest and longest food and wine festival – the 2008 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Tim Holding, announced yesterday.Staged at the World Showcase in Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, from 26 September to 9 November 2008, the six week festival attracts the world’s largest gathering of food and wine enthusiasts. Mr Holding believes the festival presents an excellent... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today released a decision proposing to grant authorisation to the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) to conduct a four-week trial of a 10c charge for lightweight plastic shopping bags. The trial is proposed to take place at Coles Supermarkets, Woolworths Supermarkets and IGA retailers in Narre Warren, Wangaratta and Warrnambool in Victoria. The pilot program, conceived in consultation with the Victorian Government, is proposed to commence... ...Read more »

Food outlets, local governments and other interested parties are being invited to take part in an extensive review of Victoria’s Food Act. The Food Act 1984 regulates the sale of food in Victoria, to ensure food is safe and suitable for human consumption and a number of possible changes to the current legislation have already been outlined. “The Brumby Government is taking action to ensure the highest standards of food safety for all Victorians,” Health Minister Daniel Andrews stated.... ...Read more »

Peak retail industry body, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), cautioned that the proposed trial to test a levy on plastic bags at three supermarket locations in Victoria was not addressing the real issue of litter management. The Victorian Government announced yesterday that a levy of 10 cents will be enforced in three locations from August, with Coles, Safeway and IGA to participate in the one month trial. ARA Executive Director Richard Evans said the proposed four week plastic bag levy... ...Read more »

A proposed trial to test a 10 cent charge on plastic bags is planned to start in August at three locations in Victoria, CEO of the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) Margy Osmond said today. ANRA and the Victorian Government today announced that an application to authorise the trial of a temporary charge on plastic bags has been submitted to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Trial authorisation is required under the Trade Practices Act as it will involve retailers... ...Read more »