Page 1959 - Week 06 - Thursday, 9 June 2016
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We have a world-class system for measuring and reporting air quality, with the launching of ACT Health’s air quality index website, which reports Canberra’s air quality in real time. In the ACT, we are fortunate to enjoy high-quality water and health protection systems, such as regular recreational water monitoring, to prevent waterborne disease.
We also now have increased access to high-quality drinking water, with the ACT government water on tap initiative improving the availability of free drinking water in public places. There are currently 30 fixed water units installed at various sporting fields and public spaces across the ACT.
Food safety is also a focus of this report, with 72 per cent of our 3,000 food businesses compliant with regulations at initial inspection. There is room for improvement, however, and the report shows that there were 13 outbreaks of likely food-borne illnesses that affected 394 people. The increasingly complex nature of the origins of our food, food supply and processing, as well as food preparation and storage, requires continued efforts to protect us from food-borne illness.
We all know the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, but we still face challenges around healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight, healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle are three essential areas most likely to reduce our risk of chronic disease and early death, and reduce the increase in costs to our health system.
These are all areas requiring improvement for us here in the ACT. That is why the ACT government has a range of goals around healthy weight and active lifestyles through the towards zero growth healthy weight action plan. For example, we are working towards zero growth in levels of overweight and obesity, doubling the number of vegetables that adults and children in Canberra eat every day, increasing the proportion of adults and children meeting the recommended amount of physical activity by 15 per cent by 2018.
This whole-of-government plan takes a population health approach and involves sectors as diverse as urban planning, transport, building design, school and work-based policies, and challenges the promotion and availability of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and drinks.
Some ACT government initiatives so far include healthier food and drink options in schools and work places, our partnership with the Canberra Business Chamber, called “Choose healthier”, the water on tap initiative I mentioned earlier and the delivery of physical education programs in schools.
I was pleased to announce more recently the expansion of the active streets for schools program, which is designed to create an environment around schools that is safer and easier for kids to walk or ride to school. This will involve improving cycling paths and footpaths and give parents peace of mind that their kids will be safe on the way to school. You do not have to walk the whole way or do it every day, but every little bit helps. We also made additional investment in Tuesday’s budget to expand successful programs such as working with businesses to improve the promotion of healthy food and drink options.
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