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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 8 Hansard (25 October) . . Page.. 2040 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

The first of the amendments I am moving relates to the functions of the Health Promotion Board, but I would like to add that it is consistent with the third amendment I have circulated, which seeks to add three additional members to the board. The additional two functions I have proposed seek to add the function of promoting the community's capacity to support its own good health, and the promotion of good health through intersectoral collaboration. Obviously, having an environmental health representative on the board will assist in achieving a more intersectoral approach to health promotion, and representation from health consumers and a community health expert will expand the community voice on the board and strengthen the capacity of the board to promote self-supporting projects which assist in strengthening good health in the community.

I might add that these additional functions are entirely consistent with ACT Health goals and targets, and, as a key performance indicator in many of the budget programs is meeting these goals and targets, one would imagine that it is therefore consistent with the Government's policy. Two of the key goals in the chapter on community access and participation are to "strengthen intersectoral action to promote healthy public policy and environments" and to "facilitate the self-determination of self-help and community organisations".

What does intersectoral mean? It is about an integrated approach to management; the integration of quality development, of practice, of problem solving and place. Practically, this means forming policy committees which will involve all stakeholders - different levels of government, community interests, employee representation and industry, for example, to develop a common policy direction. It is also about developing teams of people with different skills, recognising the interconnections between social, environmental and economic issues, and then applying research, policy and practice to problems faced at a local level. If anything should be intersectoral in approach it should be health.

ACT Health goals and targets go some small way to recognising the links between the health of the physical environment and the health of humanity, particularly in transport issues; but not far enough, according to the Commissioner for the Environment. It is disappointing to see the Government disagree with the recommendation to restore and expand the ACT Health goals and targets section on the impact of environmental factors on health. Even the AMA, in its recent national conference, discussed the importance of environmental factors in health. Most Australians are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact of environmental factors - from ozone depletion, to toxic substances in our air and water, to radiation - on our health.

The Liberal Government keeps telling us that it is all for community involvement and collaboration across departments to come up with the best outcomes. Promoting community projects which integrate environmental and health issues is just as important as promoting collaboration between different sectors at the level of policy-making. The real test of the Government's rhetoric is whether or not they put action to their words.

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