For the more than 280,000 people who will attend the Multicultural Festival this weekend, regulation will likely be far from their mind.
However for Access Canberra staff it remains front and centre with this weekend a culmination of months of targeted regulatory activity to ensure the event runs smoothly and the community stays safe.
Today we were pleased to join the officers and inspectors of Access Canberra as they undertook some of their final important inspections before the crowds converged on the city centre.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations, Rachel Stephen-Smith said the inspectors were visiting the more than 400 stalls across the weekend to ensure safety for the community.
“A risk-based approach is being taken and inspectors are looking for compliance in areas including electrical, gas and plumbing but also, through the Health Protection Service, food safety,” she said.
“As well as all the stalls, the seven stages have also been inspected. This is a large job but one the inspectors do with a great deal of professionalism as well as collaboration with organisers and stall holders to ensure the best outcomes for the community.”
Minister for Regulatory Services Gordon Ramsay said Access Canberra had also worked hard to reduce red tape when it came to regulation, supporting this event which celebrates our culture and diversity.
“Since Access Canberra was formed in 2015 a key focus has been making it easier to do business in the ACT. This has also included streamlining events regulation and paperwork to encourage activity and support a vibrant city,” he said.
“The Access Canberra Event Approvals Team has worked as a single point of contact for the Festival organisers and coordinated the regulatory inspections program with WorkSafe ACT, Construction, Environment and Workplace Protection, the Health Protection Service and Liquor Regulation.
“A great example is that Access Canberra accepted and processed liquor permit applications for the Festival as one bulk lodgement. In previous years individual stall holders would be responsible for obtaining a liquor permit.
“By doing this Access Canberra has reduced the effort required for stall holders allowing them more time to do what they do best – showcasing some of the best food and entertainment to our community.”
Noting the pivotal role they played, Access Canberra was also this year pleased to formally sponsor the Festival through the funding of safety vests for volunteers and Community Services Directorate staff to wear.
“This will help the community quickly and easily identify Festival staff and those volunteering their time to improve the experience of the community,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“It is another way in which Access Canberra is working to make things easier, simpler and faster in all that they do.”
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