Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes the launch today of Preventing Chronic Disease - How does Australia Score?, a score card produced by Prevention 1st, a campaign by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, the Public Health Association of Australia, Dementia Australia and the Consumers Health Forum of Australia;

(b) notes that the scorecard rates Australia's progress on the World Health Organization's recommendations for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases; and in particular the progress in addressing the four key risk factors of tobacco use, alcohol consumption, nutrition and physical activity;

(c) notes that the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare describes chronic disease as Australia's greatest health challenge and that a third of this disease burden is preventable;

(d) regrets the scorecard's findings that Australia's efforts rate as "poor" on three of the four risk factors – alcohol consumption, nutrition and physical activity;

(e) recognises that failure to make progress in these areas is leading to, and will continue to exacerbate, an increase in preventable chronic illnesses including obesity, heart disease, diabetes and dementia;

(f) condemns the government for dismantling the Australian National Preventive Health Agency and the flexible funds, cutting funding to prevention and public health programs and putting the quality of life and long term health of Australians at risk; and

(g) calls on the government to:

  (i) actively engage in September's United Nations High-level meeting on non-communicable diseases (chronic disease) in New York and ensure Australia has ministerial representation; and

  (ii) urgently act to invest in preventive health measures and implement the recommendations of the Preventing Chronic Disease – How does Australia Score? scorecard.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is investing in the preventive health of Australians. In the budget we announced $77. 9 million for infant health. The government will ensure our children get the best possible start in life. This will lead to them becoming healthier adults with lower obesity levels and a reduced reliance on the health system in the long term. In addition, we have committed $39.5 million to extend the whooping cough vaccine to pregnant women and to provide $17.5 million for research into maternal health and the first 2,000 days of a child's life. These measures are complemented by investment of $56 million in public health and chronic disease grant programs and other preventive health measures, such as the Prime Minister's One Million Steps initiative with the Heart Foundation.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Di Natale be agreed to.