(1)   Further to his reply to question No 4083 that “substantial work is being undertaken to promote healthy eating” to indigenous communities, can he advise: (a) what is the nature of this work; (b) what are the full details of the specific programs undertaken to promote healthy eating; (c) when did these programs commence and will they continue indefinitely; (d) what is the yearly budget allocated to these specific programs; and (e) if not, why not. 3304 No. 146—6 February 2007

(2)   Will the programs identified in Part (1) redress the situation in the Anangu Pitjanjatjara Yakunytjatjara Lands, where: (a) chicken and chips cost $3 a serve, but broccoli is $3 for a single floret, apples and oranges cost as much as $2 each and fruit and vegetables are priced by the piece; and (b) poor quality mince is $18 a kilo and stewing steak is around $25 a kilo; if so, will he explain how; if not, what can the Government do to ensure that, taking into account the current prices under the Mai Wiru Policy, indigenous communities in remote areas of Australia will have affordable access to the healthy foods that are being promoted to them.

The nature of the work that the Australian Government is undertaking to promote healthy eating to Indigenous communities including in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, involves as key components addressing the issues of affordability of and access to, healthy foods and community nutrition education.

Details of various programs including funding and timeframes are as follows:

The Mai Wiru Regional Stores Project which is funded through the Department of Health and Ageing’s Regional Health Services Program. The Mai Wiru (Healthy Food) project aims to develop community stores on the APY Lands that are community owned and that provide access to good quality healthy food for communities. The implementation stage is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing until March 2008. The Australian Government has committed $1,569,590 between 2000 and 2008 to support the Mai Wiru Regional Stores Policy.

The Child Nutrition Program is funded by the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs as part of the Australian Government’s Stronger Families and Communities Strategy. Funding of $1.5 million over 4 years to 30 June 2008 has been provided to the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council Aboriginal Corporation to provide improved child nutrition to Indigenous communities in remote areas of South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. This program provides individual case management and support for families where children are identified as at risk, particularly through failure to grow; and nutrition and early childhood education work.

The Outback Stores project is funded by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) and managed by Indigenous Business Australia. As part of the 2006-07 Commonwealth Budget, Indigenous Business Australia (under the DEWR portfolio) announced an initiative called Outback Stores. This initiative provides $48 million (including $40 million in capital) over 4 years from 1 July 2006. As well as improving the viability and efficiency of remote community stores and increasing employment, the initiative will support stores to provide a better range of goods and services, including healthy foods, at affordable prices.

The Remote Indigenous Stores and Takeaway project (RIST), a State/Commonwealth initiative over 3 years from 1 July 2006. This project, Healthy Business, Healthy Food, Healthy Community, is a key component of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition Strategy and Action Plan 2000-2010. It is jointly funded by Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Northern Territory, Western Australia and the Australian Government. The Australian Government has contributed $150,000 to this initiative.

These programs operate to address the issues of improved nutrition through affordable and accessible healthy food for Indigenous communities, including in the APY Lands. The programs focus on nutrition education, healthy food provision and preparation. This involves as a key strategy, working through community stores that provide essential services and deliver health and social benefits through adoption of healthy food practices and improvement in the affordability and availability of nutritious foods in remote Indigenous communities. In addition to these initiatives, Indigenous health services take an active role in promoting healthy eating to improve overall health, and prevent and manage chronic disease.