1. EHA (SA) Manager’s Forum - Enforcement Consistency Project

2. Why this Project?
Initiated via Environmental Health Australia (SA) Managers Forum
Identified as a priority in SA Health & Local Government MOU Working Group Plan
Based on research & consultation undertaken in 2014 confirming inconsistencies in the use of warnings, improvement notices, expiations, prohibition orders and prosecutions between enforcement agencies
Just over half of Council’s surveyed had Enforcement Policies in place
Only a few have detailed documented internal guidelines for Officers to reference when considering enforcement action
Traditionally minimal collaboration between Councils to achieve a consistent approach to enforcement

3. Number of offences expiated – 2013/14

4. % of routine inspections resulting in Expiation Notices – 2013/14

5. Why do we need to undertake this work?
Our own professional credibility
If we don’t that option may be taken away from us

6. What’s a Given!
Acknowledgement that consistency across our industry is not going to be easy
No intention to remove Officers discretionary decision making
Acknowledgement that a “one size fits all” approach won’t work

7. What we want to Achieve
All Council’s have an endorsed Enforcement Policy
If not then they at least have internal Enforcement Guidelines for Officers to reference
Form a support group (informal enforcement committee) that could be approached for advice and to share information especially around prosecutions.
Agreed guidelines for enforcement (endorsed by the EHA Managers Group and SA Health) that would be used as a starting point when considering enforcement action.

8. What we want from you
Remember it’s aim is to make things easier for EHO’s and provide a certain level of consistency across all Councils with regard to enforcement
Remember it wont replace your discretionary decision making options and will still allow for Officers to take into account specific circumstances that may relate to the cases that are being investigated
It’s the first steps towards us all delivering consistent enforcement across our industry
So please be open minded about this project and contribute where you can