Australian Greens Senator Calls To Outlaw Obesity
April 10th 2010 04:24
Senator Siewert (right) campaigns against genetically modified food
"Firm action is needed by the Rudd government to rein in this growing threat to the health and well-being of the nation," said Australian Greens health spokesperson, Senator Rachel Siewert yesterday.
"A greater focus and increased resources for preventive health is clearly needed, but the Commonwealth must also bite the bullet on regulatory reform to tackle the biggest push factors."
"We need strong action on food standards, tighter regulation on food labelling to deliver more effective information to consumers, and a comprehensive ban on the marketing junk food to children," said Senator Siewert.
"Ending junk food advertising during children's television viewing hours should be a no-brainer - if we seriously want to tackle the projected blow-out in future health budgets we need to act now."
"While the WA results are really quite worrying, the ANJPH report analyses data that is already a number of years old - it is clear that we are dealing with an increasing trend and it is very likely similar patterns in high body mass index will be found in other states across Australia."
"This research needs to be done in other states as a priority - but it is not an excuse to delay action on what we already know is a serious problem."
"We should take a moment to celebrate the success of tobacco control. A multi-disciplinary approach to limiting the advertising and availability of tobacco and improved public education of the health risks of smoking has knocked 'the smoko' off its top peg as Australia's number one cause of premature death."
"While some of the details are a little different there is still a lot we can learn from this success. It is clear that we need to be taking a comprehensive approach that works at all the levers," concluded Senator Siewert.
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