Page 3733 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 24 August 2011
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On many occasions the Greens have talked about preventative health measures and the need to stop people getting sick in the first place rather than solely focusing on the acute end. We readily acknowledge that this is a very difficult task, and it is difficult to assess the outcomes because we probably will not see them for a decade or so. That is when we start to see the collective results of various initiatives around preventative health. Nevertheless, there is an enormous range of initiatives open to us, and we need every one of them if we want to maintain the longer term health of our community. We know the fantastic results we can get and the savings that we can make in ensuring that we do have a health community.
Tackling cigarettes and alcohol is important, but so too is engaging in strategies to get people eating more nutritious food, limiting their intake of junk food, as well as being more active. And here the Greens would like to acknowledge and are very supportive of the government’s unplug and play initiative. This is a really positive initiative that will help get young people active every day. To complement this measure we need to ensure that they are going to be eating well and that any increase in activity is not just offset by them then going and consuming junk food. We need to ensure that both parents and children are aware what their healthy options are and what the unhealthy options are so they can be making informed choices about what they will be consuming and understanding that, for the unhealthy options, they are occasional foods that of course can be consumed but in limited amounts.
Ms Bresnan’s proposed bill today is a step forward. It seeks to ensure consumers are provided with information at the point of sale about the amount of energy in a fast food item. The scheme will assist consumers to make better decisions about the food that they and their children eat. The scheme is supported by the Heart Foundation and the consumer organisation Choice.
In the debate this morning the Chief Minister raised the issue of the law applying to businesses that have seven or more outlets, and it was the Heart Foundation that recommended this number. That was based on their analysis and their research of the New South Wales model.
Other laws that the Greens are trying to push at both a state and federal level around Australia include front-of-package traffic light labelling and the banning of advertising of foods high in fat, salt and sugar during children’s television viewing times. The Greens have also proposed that food packaging clearly label brightly coloured food dyes that can have a major impact on some children, especially those with ADHD.
I would like to further consider the issue of advertising, as we know that children are particularly vulnerable to advertising and that companies are actively looking for ways to subtly encourage them to pester their parents—known as pester power—and to target children in their marketing practices. Parents need to know what they and their children are consuming so that they can not only model healthy behaviour but also know when they need to restrict as far as diet is concerned with their children.
I think further exploration of increased awareness about what is a healthy energy intake for children throughout the various stages of development is an essential
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