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NSW Food Authority takes inappropriate course of action
by sten Tuesday, Jun 16 2009, 12:27pm
national / health related / commentary

A curious case is in progress in the Industrial Magistrates Court in Sydney. The case relates to the sale of raw milk products and other alternative (health) food products. The case has not yet been finalised so we are forced to take a general approach to the matters under consideration.

With all legal matters the best place to start is at the beginning; so what exactly is, The Food Authority of NSW?

In what social space or location does this ‘authority’ function and who benefits most from its extremely costly, some would say, unnecessary existence?

Does this enormously wasteful, of public funds, organisation exercise authority over the ‘quality’ and availability of food or is it an authority on food? Neither seems to apply as raw milk products continue to be sold in large quantities by high profile vendors and wholesalers. Australian consumers, including Federal Parliamentarians, have not foregone the pleasures of consuming raw milk products -- imported French cheeses included -- so wherefore this particular State ‘authority?’

We believe a dozen or so Food Authority (FA) investigators/officers and a small army of lawyers have been involved in prosecuting a case against a, wait for it, health food, volunteer flea-market vendor! High profile industry heavies in the multi-million dollar alternative food industry somehow avoided capture from a State-wide FA dragnet! The ‘Al Capone’ of curds and whey remains at large, probably hiding out in his plush offices protected by an army of imported French Lawyers – give the people of NSW a break, Premier Rees!

After years of scandal and incompetence, citizens of NSW have become acutely aware of the ineptitudes of State government institutions; the people may conclude that another overfunded, bloated government department is desperately attempting to justify its existence by intentionally selecting a ‘soft target’ in order to record an easy conviction in court! From all accounts the unfortunate defendant lives hand to mouth and is currently represented in court on a pro bono basis!

The long-suffering, people of NSW have recently witnessed the resignation of numerous INCOMPETENT State Parliamentarians, including a former Premier! They are certainly not amused by any government department squandering well over a quarter of a million dollars prosecuting a hippie 'health food freak' during the worst global economic crisis since the great depression!

Public servants attempting to justify their existence by crucifying fringe-dwelling hippies while conveniently ignoring corporate players risk placing the government in a politically compromising position -- stomach cramps and diarrhoea resulting from contaminated Sydney water is not soon forgotten; nor are massive power blackouts in the CBD and inner suburbs. The grossly inadequate public transport system stands as a daily reminder of appalling management. It would take very little to see the current incompetent government booted into the political wilderness for decades.

We note the chief investigating officer for the Food Authority sought approval from a senior official in the Food Authority before pursuing the hapless hippie flea-market vendor.

Pending the outcome of this case we can hardly wait to reveal all!

See:
http://cleaves.zapto.org/news/story-1475.html