SA Greens MP Pushes For Fast Food Ban Near Schools

A fast food ban in the vicinity of South Australian schools may come to life if a Greens MP’s push is successful.

Robert Simms has drafted a bill to stop fast food outlets from opening within 400 metres of schools across the state.

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Simms said the bill was a way to encourage healthy eating habits among school children.

“It’s literally just a hop, skip, and a jump away for these kids to get their hands on a hamburger,” Simms told Nine.

“Why are we allowing fast food restaurants to set up right next door to our schools, and that’s what the Greens are trying to crack down on with this bill.”

The bill is expected to be introduced to parliament in the upcoming weeks but may face backlash from the government, which has already expressed some criticism.

“Schools are often quite close to suburban shopping centres, you’d start to shut down food courts and the like, or devalue them, and devalue property,” cabinet minister Nick Champion said.

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