Annual performance reporting for local government enforcement agencies

The Department of Health requires local government enforcement agencies to submit an annual report on their performance under the:

  • Food Act 2008 (section 121) 
  • Public Health Act 2016 (section 22).

Reports are mandatory and must be submitted each financial year between 1 July to 31 August.

These reports assist the CEO of the Department of Health and the Chief Health Officer to anticipate:

  • issues associated with the administration of public health legislation
  • gauge the level of consistency in which public health legislation is being administered across WA and
  • identify knowledge gaps and areas for future policy development.

The Department of Health will release at the completion of each financial year an online reporting template (published on this page) which includes details on what a local government will be required to report on.

2022–2023 financial year reporting

The Department of Health is currently receiving reports from local government enforcement agencies for the 202223 financial year.

Correspondence (PDF 305KB) and the reporting questions (Word 286KB) have been circulated to local government Chief Executive Officers. 

To meet your reporting requirements local governments are requested to complete the online reporting form (external site) from 1 July 2023. The form should be completed by 31 August 2023.

An additional reporting component is open to local governments to report on a suite of environmental health functions and regulatory responsibilities under the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911. This reporting component can be completed using the additional online reporting form (external site)

You can view the additional reporting questions (PDF 250KB) before completing online. The additional reporting questions are also due by 31 August 2023.

The additional reporting questions relate to:

  • skin penetration
  • events
  • public buildings
  • housing
  • water facilities
  • aquatic facilities
  • recreational waters
  • environmental waters
  • wastewater
  • recycled water
  • wastewater overflows
  • presticides
  • mosquitoes
  • asbestos
  • pollutants
  • clandestine activities
  • preventable disease
  • development assessments

The Department of Health encourages participation in this additional reporting component as the data is most effective when the majority of local governments respond to the survey questions. Previous reports on this component can be found under the Health Miscelllaneous Provisions heading below.


Reporting data

The Department of Health follows up with local governments who do not complete their reports on time.

Upon completion of the reporting submission period a report is published for each Act summarising key findings on performance of functions and any legislative issues identified across WA.

Local government can provide feedback on the reporting process at any stage. Feedback can be submitted to foodsafety@health.wa.gov.au

Guideline

The following guideline is provided to support local government officers responsible for completing annual performance reports required under the Food Act 2008 and Public Health Act 2016.

Guidelines

Food Act reports

Previous reports summarising findings of local government reporting under the Food Act at are provided below.

The information received from enforcement agencies is compiled into a comprehensive performance report about food regulatory functions every three years. In the interim years a summary of the reporting information is published.

Year Report
2020-2021 and
2021-2022
Will be a combined report
2016-2019
(3 year)
Reporting period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2019: Report on the Food Act 2008 (PDF 753 KB)
2017-2018 Reporting period 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018: Summary Report on the Food Act 2008 (WA) (PDF 788 KB)
2016-2017 Reporting period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017: Summary Report on the Food Act 2008 (WA) (PDF 2MB)
2013-2016
(3 year)
Reporting period 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2016: Report on the Food Act 2008 (WA) (PDF 1.3MB)andAppendices (PDF 1.3MB)
2010-2013
(3 year)
Reporting period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2013: Report on the Food Act 2008 (WA) (PDF 3.4MB)andAppendices (PDF 1.5MB)
2010-2012 Reporting period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2012: Food Act 2008 Enforcement Agency Reporting Information (PDF 1MB)
2009-2010 Reporting period 23 October 2009 to 30 June 2010: WA Food Regulation: Report on the Food Act 2008 (PDF 6MB)
Health Miscellaneous Provisions reports

Previous reports summarising findings of optional reporting under the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911.

Financial year Report
 2019-2020 Regional reports for environmental health indicators and local government optional reporting:
 2018-2019  2018-2019 Financial Year Optional Reporting Summary Report (PDF 387KB) 
 2017-2018  2017-2018 Financial Year Optional Reporting Summary Report (PDF 556KB)
 2016-2017
Last reviewed: 26-05-2023