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Preventative health essential to closing the gap

10 October 2008 - ANTaR - The National Preventative Health Strategy foreshadowed today by Health Minister, Nicola Roxon could play a major part in closing the 17 year life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, according to Indigenous rights organisation, ANTaR.

Welcoming the discussion paper released by the Minister, ANTaR National Director, Gary Highland said that tobacco, alcohol and obesity were all significant factors contributing to the poor health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“Tobacco use and obesity are the two greatest contributors to the burden of disease for Indigenous people,” Mr Highland said.

“We won’t defeat the diabetes and cardiovascular disease suffered by Aboriginal people unless we prevent obesity and tobacco use.”

Mr Highland said that tackling alcohol was also crucial to overcoming Indigenous disadvantage.

“The discussion paper points out that although Indigenous people are twice as likely to abstain from alcohol as other Australians, those who do drink are up to six times more likely to do this at high-risk levels,” Mr Highland said.

Mr Highland said the discussion paper was clear, comprehensive and refreshingly frank when it came to the dangers posed by vested interests such as big tobacco.

“It’s pleasing to see that closing the gap is a high priority in the discussion paper, just as it appears to be in the work of the Government’s Health and Hospitals Reform Commission,” Mr Highland said.

Mr Highland said that Minister Roxon’s personal commitment to Indigenous health is commendable and the policy settings she has set in place are sound.

“However, it remains to be seen whether sufficient resources will be made available in next year’s budget to enable these positive commitments to translate into the action needed to close the gap,” he said.

Media contact: Gary Highland on 0418 476 940.

Release of National Preventative Health Taskforce Paper - Australia: The Healthiest Country by 2020

10 October 2008 - Minister for Health - The life expectancy of children in Australia today could be cut by two years if current levels of obesity and overweight continue, the National Preventative Health Taskforce has warned.

Facts like this underline the urgency and importance of taking preventative action to ensure a healthy future for all Australians.

The National Preventative Health Taskforce today released a discussion paper to kickstart debate, an important step towards developing a National Preventative Health Strategy.

The Taskforce proposes a number of targets which it says can be achieved by 2020. These are:

• Halt and reverse the rise in overweight and obesity;
• Reduce the prevalence of daily smoking to 9% or less;
• Reduce the prevalence of harmful drinking for all Australians by 30%; and
• Contribute to closing the 17 year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

The paper outlines options for reform, rather than making final recommendations. The Taskforce will now accept public submissions, before delivering its National Preventative Health Strategy to Government in mid-2009.

Preventative health works – 25 years after the introduction of policies to discourage smoking, use of tobacco products in Australia is at an historic low.

But there is much more to be done.

While Australia is a healthy country by international standards, around 32% of the nation’s illness is caused by tobacco, obesity, harmful and high use of alcohol, physical inactivity, poor diet and associated risk factors of high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon urged the community to read the discussion paper, and get involved in the debate.

“The changes we need will require a concerted effort across the community – involving individuals, governments, industry, media and non-government organisations. This is an important debate, with real consequences for Australia’s future.”

Chair of the Taskforce, Professor Rob Moodie, agreed.

“We need to do everything we can to reverse the very worrying trends we’re seeing in health. We’re very much looking forward to hearing what the community has to say.”

To view copies of the National Preventative Health Taskforce discussion paper and its three comprehensive technical reports on obesity, tobacco and alcohol, visit www.preventativehealth.org.au. There is also an online submission form available there. Anyone who is interested in contributing feedback can do so at this website up to 2 January 2009.

In addition, consultations will be held in each capital city and a number of regional areas in late 2008 and early 2009 and will involve local health professionals, consumer groups, state and local governments and industry.

For any inquiries, please contact Ms Roxon's office (02) 6277 7220

For a copies of the Taskforce discussion paper Australia: the healthiest country by 2020

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