‘Name-and-shame is a good thing because it gives the public vital information’ South Australia frustrated by legal process

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A filthy, cockroach-infested St Peters restaurant fined more than $100,000 has not been added to the State Government’s name-and-shame register, despite being convicted almost two months ago.

On February 12, Imperial Peking admitted to 31 counts of breaching the state’s food safety code, after cockroaches were found on benches, walls, floors and cooking equipment.

The Eastern Health Authority (EHA) – which prosecuted the restaurant – said it should not have to jump through hoops to get convicted businesses Imperial Pekingadded to the register.

EHA chief executive Michael Livori said it the process to get convicted businesses on the register was long-winded and bureaucratic, including having to wait for the sentencing magistrate to publish remarks.

“It should be automatic or the process could be streamlined,” Mr Livori said.

“We shouldn’t have to fill in numerous forms and have to provide A, B and C to get a company on the register.

“Do I think the Department of Health could look to improve the time frame? I would answer, ‘yes’.”

An SA Health spokeswoman said it could not add premises to the register until the legal process had been completed, including waiting for the 28-day appeal window to lapse.