A new online service will allow Western Australian diners to identify restaurants that have broken health laws.

WA Health Minister Jim McGinty says the names of food businesses convicted of health breaches will be published under a new section of the Department of Health website. The details of prosecutions have always been publicly available, but the new website will make it easier for people to access the information, he says.

“People have a right to know whether the places they are eating in or where their food is being processed are operating safely,” Mr McGinty says.

“Local governments routinely inspect and monitor food businesses for compliance with health regulations. In addition, they encourage food businesses to adopt voluntary endorsement programs which require the business to meet specific hygiene standards.

The website already lists prosecutions that have taken place under the Food Standards Code or WA Health Act over the past 12 months, provided on a voluntary basis by local governments. But a section of the new Food Bill currently before Parliament will mean that all future successful prosecutions will be published by the Department of Health.

The website already lists prosecutions that have taken place under the Food Standards Code or WA Health Act over the past 12 months, provided on a voluntary basis by local governments. A total of 17 Perth food premises have been listed following conviction for practices including unclean premises, food not protected from contamination, vermin on the premises, food stored at unsafe temperatures, dirty appliances and selling food beyond its use-by date.