Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Health, in writing, on 02 December 2019:

(1) When was the last time the Government published a National Nutrition Policy.(2) Is the Government developing a National Nutrition Policy; if so, when will it be published; if not, why not.(3) When was the last time the Government revised and published the Australian Dietary Guidelines.(4) Is the Government developing new guidelines; if so, when will they be published; if not, why not.(5) When was the last time the Government revised and published the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating.(6) Is the Government developing a new guide; if so, when will it be published; if not, why not.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answers to the honourable member's questions are as follows:

(1) The last National Food and Nutrition Policy was published in 1992.

(2) The National Preventive Health Strategy is currently under development and nutrition and physical activity is a key focus.

Additionally, supporting Australians to eat a healthy diet to prevent obesity is a proposed key focus of the National Obesity Strategy, currently under development.

(3) The Australian Dietary Guidelines are developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and were last reviewed and updated in 2013. The Australian Dietary Guidelines were published under the Department of Health's Eat for Health program on 18 February 2013.

(4) The Australian Government is currently considering a review of the Australian Dietary Guidelines within the context of the development of the National Preventive Health Strategy.

(5) The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating is a resource under the Eat for Health banner and was last updated and released in 2013 with the 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines.

(6) The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating is a pictorial resource based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines to assist Australians in consuming a healthy diet. As the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating is informed by the Australian Dietary Guidelines, it will be reviewed following any revisions to the Australian Dietary Guidelines.