HEALTH

Background
At the outset, it is important to dispel the myth that the big threat to the sustainability of our health system is population ageing.

Policy
Achieve a healthy and long living Australian population, supported by a health system that is innovative, accessible, affordable and sustainable.

Policy Methods (Federal & State)
To help achieve this Sustainable Australia Party will:

• Better promote preventative health care through healthier lifestyle choices, including:
  • Appropriate food and beverage choices, particularly at primary and secondary schools;
  • A national physical activity plan promoting and supporting regular exercise including accessible community-led sporting groups;
  • A ban on junk and high sugar content food and beverage advertising to children during children’s television viewing hours;(1)
  • Proper government assessment of appropriate dietary requirements and intakes including sugar levels;
  • An excise on products containing high levels of sugar, with the revenue raised from such a sugar excise to be directed to subsidising appropriate fresh fruit and vegetables, and funding public health awareness campaigns and anti-obesity health care;
  • Affordable access to primary health care.
• Provide universal access to free contraception and reproductive health advice.
• Properly review the health care system to identify and eliminate waste and mismanagement.
• Better invest in medical and nursing training as well as scientific research and cost-effective medical technology in order to bring down the cost of healthcare.(2)
• Better resource mental health services, including hospital and community-based preventative care, assessment and support services.
• Roll out the NDIS with efficiency and priority for Australia’s high-needs individuals and families.
• Treat personal drug use and abuse as primarily a health issue and support users with well-funded rehabilitation programs.
• Support scientifically proven quality 'natural' or 'alternative' health care.
• Increase immunisation coverage to help prevent diseases.(3)

Footnotes:

1. Children’s viewing hours are Mon-Fri 7:00-8:00, 16:00-20:30, Sat-Sun 7:00-20:30. NB: 91% are concerned about TV food ads directed at children: Coalition on Food Advertising to Children research.
2. We know from successive Federal Treasury studies that the ever-rising cost of healthcare - caused not so much by the ageing of the population as by the ever-rising cost of advances in medical technology - is the greatest reason for the projected increase in budget deficits.
3. SAP has no plans to change vaccination laws. Relevant legislation would be addressed on its merits if elected, in an evidence-based way after careful stakeholder engagement.

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