Page 3704 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 23 November 2022

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(d) Better Together: a strategic plan for research in the ACT health system 2022-2030; and

(e) ACT Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan 2019-2024.”.

The amendment points out that the ACT is already doing well when it comes to men’s health. The ACT government is focused on improving health and wellbeing for all Canberrans, and we do continue to make headway. We know this because of the evidence. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has recently released its most recent data on life expectancy, and it is good news for Canberra’s men. We continue to lead the country on life expectancy and, while Canberran women also continue to lead the nation, the gap is actually closing between Canberran men and women. This is good news, and it seems that our evidence-based and person-centred approach is working. According to the ABS, over the past 10 years, Canberran male life expectancy has increased by 1.7 years, to be one of the highest in the world, at 82.7 years, or 1.4 years above the national average.

We on this side of the chamber know that health and wellbeing in the Canberra community is generally nation-leading—and, indeed, world-leading—but we also know that there are key areas where there is room for improvement, and, importantly, that generalised statistics can obscure pockets of the population who are not seeing these gains.

While men continue to live longer or can expect to live longer from each passing year, we also know that many are living with chronic disease and that the health status varies markedly between population groups. That is a theme that I will return to shortly.

Men, especially young men, are also more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviour that can result in long-term harm to themselves and, indeed, to others. Based on evidence, the ACT government’s policies focus on priority populations, driven by expert advice, stakeholders and the community. Evidence based and person centred, built on lived experience: that is what will ensure that the government continues to deliver the best outcomes for Canberrans. It is what guides our 10-year framework for our public health system—accessible, accountable and sustainable, which provides a common vision for the strategy, policy and planning activities that are shaping the future direction of our health services.

Critically, the framework was developed with consumers, carers, peak and advocacy groups, primary healthcare providers and clinical services. Guided by this expert group, the framework identifies the priority population groups that the government needs to focus on to achieve our vision. This is based on evidence to ensure that our system is focused on those who need it most.

As an aside, not once, from my own or my office’s recollection, can we recall any of these stakeholders, experts or community representatives stating that what the ACT really needs is a men’s health plan. From reading the motion, it does make one wonder what it is about. Of course, we could be uncharitable and suggest that this might be some red meat for the conservative base of the Canberra Liberals! Of course,

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