 | Monday, 5 August 2002
‘GOOD SAMARITAN’ LAW TO BOOST FOOD DONATIONS TO NEEDY
Hundreds of needy Victorians will benefit from new legislation providing legal immunity to those who act in good faith by donating food to charities, the Acting Premier and Health Minister, John Thwaites, announced today.
“We have been made aware of a reluctance by some parts of the community to donate food to charities because they fear being held responsible if someone who consumed the food fell ill,” Mr Thwaites said.
“These new laws will protect businesses and individuals acting in good faith by donating safe food that would otherwise go to waste to help out the disadvantaged in our community.”
Mr Thwaites said a 1996 estimate of the amount of food thrown out each year in Melbourne was 280,000 tonnes – a figure likely to be significantly higher today.
“We expect that legal immunity for those who donate safe food to charities will reduce the amount of food wasted and increase the amount of food donated to people in need.”
The Good Samaritan Bill 2002 would be introduced into Parliament in the spring session, he said.
The legislation would provide that a donor is exempt from liability from a negligence claim if:
· The food is donated to a not-for-profit charity distributing free food to the needy; and
· The donor acted in good faith.
“This Australia-first legislation demonstrates that we appreciate that many businesses and individuals want to act selflessly and in good faith and help others – in fact, we encourage it,” Mr Thwaites said.
Charitable organisation One Umbrella, which uses donated food to make pies for distribution to the needy, welcomed the changes.
“We would like to congratulate the Victorian Government on making it possible for hungry and underprivileged people in Melbourne to have access to good quality, nutritious food,” One Umbrella manager, Carol Nikakis, said.
One Umbrella had formed partnerships with organisations including the Pratt Foundation and the Law Institute of Victoria to lobby for the changes, Ms Nikakis said.
“We’d also like to thank Melbourne City Council and Food Safety Victoria for their advice and support.”
Law Institute chief executive officer, John Cain, commended the Institute’s Young Lawyers’ Section for working with One Umbrella and the Victorian Government to devise the new laws.
“This is a great example of lawyers working with the Government and the community to achieve positive outcomes for all concerned,” Mr Cain said.
Media contact: Ilsa Colson 9651 5799/ 0418368 639 www.vic.gov.au
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