Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I can. I can inform the senator that currently there is no empirical evidence from any country that indicates obesity rates have declined due to the implementation of a sugar-sweetened beverages tax. Obesity, as we know, is often caused by poor diet choices, physical inactivity and a range of other factors that are often interrelated. As such, obesity prevention and nutrition promotion requires a multifactorial approach, and this government is delivering on a range of tangible programs, such as the Healthy Food Partnership and Sporting Schools initiative, to assist in this area.

In relation to international approaches, Mexico is often lauded as a success story by sugar tax supporters. However, a recent study that was in fact funded by those organisations who financed the campaign for a sugar tax admitted that causality cannot be established between the sugar tax and reduced rates of obesity. We will support evidence based policy decisions.